Piston valve with annular passages

ABSTRACT

A control valve ( 10 ) includes a valve body with a plurality of ports (A, B, C, D, E, F) and a plurality of annular flow passages ( 53, 55,57 ). A piston ( 34 ) which includes a plurality of annular flow passages and a longitudinal flow passage is selectively movable within a bore ( 32 ) within the valve body through operation of a valve controller ( 70 ). The valve controller is selectively operative to control the position of the piston so as to enable liquid flow through a plurality of flow paths. The valve controller further includes a installable and removable valve controller housing ( 74 ) which is releasably engageable with a valve base ( 72 ). The valve may include a changeable piston and changeable injector and plug components to adapt the valve to different flow and fluid mixing requirements.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invent ion relates to piston valves with annular passages which maybe classified in CPC Class F16K 11/0716; US Class 137, Subclass 625.69.Exemplary embodiments relate to valve arrangements that are utilized inconnection with devices which require fluid flow through multiple flowpaths, for example, systems for water treatment.

BACKGROUND

Valve arrangements for controlling the flow of liquids may have numerousdifferent forms. In situations where the liquid is required to beselectively directed to multiple different flow paths, such arrangementscan be complex. Additional complexity may arise when different flowsequences and flow paths are required in connection with differentprocess steps involving a liquid. Further complexity arises when liquidsare required to be mixed with other fluids in connection with carryingout process flows.

Valve arrangements and related control systems may benefit fromimprovements.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments include a valve arrangement that is capable ofselectively directing a liquid to multiple different flow paths. Theexemplary embodiment includes a control valve having a valve body. Theexemplary valve body includes an elongated longitudinal cylinder bore.The cylinder bore is in fluid communication with a plurality ofdifferent liquid ports which include inlet and outlet ports. The portsare in fluid connection with a plurality of respective generally annularpassages extending adjacent to the bore within the valve.

A valve element comprising piston is movably positionable longitudinallywithin the cylinder bore. The exemplary piston includes a profileconfiguration which includes a plurality of longitudinally disposedannular flow cavities. Selectively positioning the piston longitudinallyin the bore through operation of a valve controller causes the differentports of the valve to be placed in fluid communication. The exemplaryvalve controller is operative to enable the valve to be used inconjunction with other process equipment for purposes of selectivelydirecting the flow of liquid through the equipment in different flowpaths during a plurality of process steps. Such process steps mayinclude steps involving mixing of the liquid with other fluids andmaterials as required. The exemplary valve further includes thecapability to selectively shut off liquid flow and to provide bypassflow in order to stop and bypass the flow of liquid from certain processequipment associated with the valve.

Exemplary arrangements specifically relate to a control valve that isselectively operative to enable the removal of undesirable chemicalsfrom water. The exemplary valve is operative to enable flow conditionsto be changed to regenerate a resin material in a tank when necessary tomaintain optimal performance of the system in removing undesirablesubstances. Exemplary arrangements further provide a valve that includesthe functionality of an integrated liquid shutoff valve and a bypassvalve. This exemplary valve arrangement eliminates the need for separatevalves and piping to accomplish such functions.

Further exemplary arrangements include a readily changed or modifiedvalve controller for operation of the exemplary valve. The exemplaryvalve controller enables the valve controller to be readily installed,removed and replaced when necessary for maintenance or repair purposes.Further the exemplary arrangement provides a means for readilyoperatively connecting the valve controller and the valve body so thatthey may operate together.

Numerous other novel arrangements and features are described inconnection with the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary control valveincluding a movable piston and a plurality of annular flow passagesconfigured for use in connection with a liquid treatment tank.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 which shows the control valve in adifferent operating condition.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 which shows the control valve in yetanother operating condition.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 which shows the control valve inanother operating condition.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 which shows the control valve inanother operating condition.

FIG. 6A is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the control valve in anotheroperating condition in which flow of liquid into the valve is shut offand pressure on the outlet port is maintained.

FIG. 6B is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the control valve in anotheroperating condition in which flow of liquid into the valve is shut offand pressure on the outlet port is relieved.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 which shows the flow of liquidthrough the treatment tank bypassed through the valve.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view showing an exemplary valve controllerhousing and a valve base being moved toward an operative position.

FIG. 9 shows the valve base and valve controller housing in an operativeposition.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative exemplarycontrol valve.

FIG. 11 is an isometric partial cutaway view of a portion of the valveassociated with a changeable injector.

FIG. 12 is an opposite hand partial cutaway showing the portion of thevalve in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a schematic functional block diagram of an example systemthat utilizes the exemplary valves.

FIG. 14 is a schematic functional block diagram of an example slavevalve assembly.

FIG. 15 is a schematic functional block diagram of an example userinterface device in the system.

FIG. 16 is a schematic functional block diagram of an example dualdevice configuration.

FIG. 17 is a schematic functional block diagram of exampleconfigurations for sensor assemblies.

FIG. 18 is a schematic functional block diagram of an exampleconfiguration of a slave relay sensor and a slave sensor assembly.

FIG. 19 is a schematic functional block diagram of an exampleconfiguration of a relay sensor that is remotely controlled via awireless user interface device.

FIG. 20 is a schematic functional block diagram of an example housing ofa master controller that includes power terminals to which slaveassemblies may be connected.

FIGS. 21-23 are exemplary flow diagrams that illustrate the operation ofa master controller and slave assemblies.

FIGS. 24-27 show views of an example valve assembly for a liquidsoftener or other liquid conditioner.

FIGS. 28-31 are exemplary logic flow diagrams that represent operationscarried out through operation of the master controller, slavecontrollers and user interface devices of exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 32-35 are views of an exemplary cabinet used for housing a liquidconditioner and also supporting an exemplary master controller and userinterface.

FIGS. 36 and 37 show an exemplary bypass and shut off valve that may beoperated manually by handles as shown in FIG. 36 or by an electricactuator shown in FIG. 37.

FIG. 38 is an exploded view of an exemplary actuator used in conjunctionwith the bypass and shut off valve.

FIGS. 39-41 show the valve elements of the exemplary bypass and shut offvalve in various positions when operating in conjunction with a liquidtreatment system control valve.

FIG. 42 shows a plurality of the exemplary bypass and control valvesused in conjunction with a plurality of liquid treatment devices.

FIGS. 43-45 show the exemplary bypass and control valve used in ahousehold water delivery system to provide bypass and shut offcapabilities.

FIG. 46 is a schematic view of an exemplary water management systemincluding a master controller and a plurality of slave controllers.

FIG. 47 is a schematic view of components included in an exemplary slavecontroller.

FIGS. 48-50 represent schematically an exemplary logic flow carried outby a master controller in receiving and applying updated executableinstructions.

FIGS. 51-53 represent schematically an exemplary logic flow for loadingupdated instructions for execution by processor circuitry of thecontroller.

FIGS. 54-55 represent schematically exemplary logic flow for assuringthe ability of controllers to recover from software malfunctions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary arrangements of the embodiments described herein may beused in conjunction with the components, features, systems and methodsdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 14/698,381 and/or14/698,399 filed Apr. 28, 2015, the disclosures of each of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, it is showntherein an exemplary control valve generally indicated 10. Control valve10 includes a valve body 12. The valve body 12 is schematicallyrepresented and is comprised of one or more parts which function in themanner that is represented schematically in FIGS. 1-8.

The exemplary valve is used in operative connection with a liquidtreatment tank 14. Tank 14 of the exemplary arrangement is a watersoftener tank that extends generally vertically with the valve 10positioned at the top thereof via a threaded or other releasableconnection. It should be appreciated that the water treatmentapplication is only an exemplary use for the control valve configurationand that the proportions of the tank as shown in the Figures are notnecessarily representative of tanks that may be utilized in connectionwith the control valve described. Rather, in most water treatmentarrangements the exemplary valve will be used with a verticallyelongated tank which is many times longer than the height of the valvebody. Further the exemplary valve may be used in conjunction with othertypes of processing systems and equipment.

The exemplary liquid treatment tank includes a top portion 16 and abottom portion 18. The exemplary tank includes a treatment material 20therein. In some exemplary arrangements, the treatment material 20comprises resin material that is suitable for ion exchange with mineralladen water that is treated by flowing therethrough. Such resin materialmay be comprised of plastic beads or zeolite material that has anegative charge. The exemplary operation of the liquid treatment tankincludes capturing ions in water that make the water “hard” such ascalcium and magnesium ions and replacing such ions in the water withions that are not undesirable such as sodium ions. In other embodimentsother types of treatment materials other than ion exchange resinmaterials may be used. These materials may include absorbent materials,filtration materials, catalytic materials, dissolving materials,reacting materials or other types of materials. Of course it should beunderstood that the types of liquid processing, treatment materials andmethods described are exemplary and in other arrangements, other typesor additional types of equipment, materials, structures and elements fortreating water or other liquids may be used.

In the exemplary arrangement, the tank 14 includes a central tube 22extending vertically therein. Tube 22 includes an internal tube conduit24. The exemplary tube conduit extends between a top end 26 of the tubeand a bottom end 28 of the tube. The bottom end of the tube is fluidlyopen to the area of the tank that includes the resin material. Thebottom end of the tube is in operative connection with a strainer 30.Strainer 30 operates to prevent the resin from entering the fluidconduit inside the tube.

The exemplary valve body includes at least one valve element thatselectively places ports of the valve in fluid communication. Anexemplary valve body includes an elongated cylindrical bore 32. The bore32 is elongated in a longitudinal direction which is the verticaldirection as the valve is shown in FIG. 1. The longitudinal directionmay alternatively be referred to as an axial direction herein. The bore32 has a movable piston 34 therein. The piston 34 includes on its outercircumferential surface, a plurality of longitudinally spaced recessedannular flow cavities such as cavity 36. The exemplary piston 34 alsoincludes a longitudinal flow cavity 38. Longitudinal flow cavity 38extends through the piston from a first longitudinal end 40 to a secondlongitudinal end 42.

The exemplary valve body further includes a plurality of annular flowcavities 44 for example, that extend in at least partially surroundingrelation of the bore 32. Although not shown in the drawings, but asdescribed in the incorporated disclosures, exemplary embodiments includeresilient seals that operatively extend between the piston and the wallsof the valve body that extend radially inward toward the bore. Theresilient seals are operative to prevent fluid flow between the radiallyoutwardly disposed annular surfaces of the piston and the annularradially inward extending walls bounding the flow cavities of the valvebody. In exemplary arrangements, the seals are configured to preventfluid flow other than through flow cavities that are in operative fluidconnection through the selective longitudinal positioning of the pistonas described herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, the piston 34 is in operative connectionwith a piston rod 46. The piston rod 46 is operatively connected to thesecond longitudinal end of the piston. The exemplary piston rod isoperatively connected to the piston through a releasable threadedconnection as shown. In the exemplary embodiment the threaded connectionincludes a coupling with fluid openings therethrough that enables theflow of liquid through the longitudinal flow passage. The coupling alsoenables the piston to be removed and replaced with a piston of adifferent configuration.

The exemplary piston rod extends through an opening 48 in the valvebody. A suitable resilient seal is provided adjacent the opening so asto prevent the escape of liquid from the inside of the valve body aroundthe piston rod. The piston rod is operatively connected at the endoutside the valve body to an actuator bracket 50. The actuator bracket50 is in operative connection with a valve controller of a type laterdescribed herein and/or as described in the incorporated disclosures.The valve controller is operative to selectively longitudinally move theactuator bracket and the piston rod so as to selectively position thepiston to provide different flow conditions. Of course it should beunderstood that this valve element configuration is exemplary and thatin other embodiments other at least one valve element configurationssuch as rotating elements, shutter elements or other types of fluid flowdirecting elements may be used.

The exemplary valve body includes a plurality of ports. The portsinclude an inlet port 52 which is designated with the letter A forpurposes of brevity. The exemplary inlet port is in operative connectionwith a source of untreated liquid. In exemplary embodiments, the sourceof untreated liquid may be a well, reservoir or other source of waterthat requires the treatment provided by passing the liquid through thewater treatment material tank. In exemplary arrangements the untreatedliquid is provided at an elevated pressure to the inlet port 52. This isaccomplished through the use of a pump, the head of liquid in a tank orreservoir, or other suitable method for providing the liquid to theinlet port at a positive pressure. As represented schematically inFigures, the inlet port A is in operative fluid connection with anannular flow cavity 53 within the exemplary valve body.

The valve body further includes an outlet port 54. Outlet port 54 whichis designated B for purposes of brevity, is configured to be inoperative connection with one or more devices that use treated liquid.For example, the outlet port 54 may be fluidly connected to a waterpiping system within the building in which the liquid treatmentequipment is installed. In such an exemplary system the exemplary outletport B is in operative connection with treated water use devices such asfaucets, showers, hot water tanks, etc. which deliver, store and/or usewater that has been treated by having passed through the tank. Of coursethis application is exemplary. As represented in the Figures, the outletport B is in operative connection with an annular flow cavity 55 withinthe valve body that is longitudinally disposed from the annular cavityin the valve body that is connected to Port A.

The exemplary valve body further includes a drain port 56. Drain port 56which is designated C for purposes of brevity is configured in theexemplary system to be in operative connection with a drain whichreceives waste water. The drain port 56 is in operative connection withan annular flow cavity 57 within the valve body as represented in theFigures. Further it should be understood that although the drain port Cis configured to be in connection with a wastewater drain, the waterpassed from the exemplary drain port may be captured for treatment andrecycling or for other suitable purposes.

The exemplary valve body further includes a first tank port 58. Thefirst tank port 58 is labeled D for purposes of brevity herein. In theexemplary arrangement the first tank port D is fluidly connected throughthe valve to a first area at the top of a tank. This first area is on anupper side of the resin material 20 in the tank. In the exemplaryarrangement the first tank port 58 is above the level of the resinmaterial 20 as shown. Of course it should be understood that thisarrangement is exemplary and other arrangements of components may beused in connection with other embodiments.

The exemplary valve body further includes a second tank port 60. Thesecond tank port 60 which is labeled E for purposes of brevity, is inoperative connection with the tube conduit 24 within the tube 22. Thesecond tank port 60 is in operative fluid connection with the lower areaof the tank through an opening at the bottom end 28 of the tube and thestrainer 30. The second tank port 60 is in operative fluid connectionwith the lower side of the resin material.

The exemplary valve body further includes a further port that in theexemplary system is referred to as brine port 62. Brine port 62 which islabeled F for purposes of brevity, is configured for operativeconnection with a brine tank. The brine tank of exemplary embodimentsmay provide a slurry of water softener salt and water which produces abrine solution which is utilized for regenerating the resin material inthe tank in a manner that is later discussed. The exemplary brine port62 is in operative connection with a movable valve member 64. Themovable valve member 64 is movable within the valve body and dependingon the position of the movable valve member, is operative to place thebrine port 62 in fluid connection with at least one fluid cavity withinthe valve body. In the exemplary embodiment a moveable plunger 66 is inoperative connection with the at least one movable valve member 64. Aspring 68 is in operative connection with the plunger and serves to biasthe plunger upwardly from the valve body as shown so as to close thevalve member 64. As later explained in detail, the valve controller isoperative to selectively move the plunger 66 so as to operativelyconnect the brine port to flow cavities within the valve for purposes ofdelivering treated liquid out of the valve from the brine port and forreceiving brine material from the brine tank.

In the exemplary embodiment the valve includes an injector 71. Theinjector 71 is positioned in a passage 75. The injector further includesa check valve 73. The check valve 73 enables flow from the injector tothe flow cavity 44 and prevents flow in the opposite direction. In theexemplary arrangement the injector is removably positionable in thepassage 75.

The exemplary valve body further includes a passage 59. In theconfiguration shown in FIG. 1, the passage 59 is closed by a removableplug 61.

The exemplary valve body further includes a passage 65. Passage 65 isfluidly connected with annular cavity 55. The valve body furtherincludes a chamber 69. Chamber 69 is in fluid communication with passage65. A screen 67 is positioned fluidly intermediate of the passage 65 andthe chamber 69. Chamber 69 is in fluid connection with the injector 71.

The exemplary embodiment of the control valve operates in an exemplarysystem in a manner similar to that described in greater detail in theincorporated disclosure. A valve controller that is in operativeconnection and with the actuator bracket moves the bracket along thelongitudinal direction which is the vertical direction as shown in FIG.1 and selectively positions the piston to achieve a plurality of flowconditions along different flow paths through the valve. In an exemplaryfirst condition of the valve represented in FIG. 1, untreated liquid isreceived into the valve through the inlet A. Liquid passes through thevalve cavities of the piston and the valve body as represented by thearrows shown in FIG. 1. The untreated liquid is in fluid connectionthrough the valve with the first tank port D. In this flow condition thecheck valve 73 prevents flow of untreated liquid through the injector 71to cavity 55 and the outlet B. Untreated liquid flows from the firsttank port downward through the top of the tank and into the resinmaterial 20. In some exemplary arrangements the top of the tank mayinclude a gas such as air or oxygen to react with materials dissolved inthe incoming liquid such as water to produce reaction products that canbe more readily separated from the liquid. In the exemplary arrangementthe liquid passing through the resin material undergoes an ion exchangein which calcium, magnesium and other positively charged ions in theliquid are captured by the resin and replaced in the liquid with sodiumions which are present in the resin.

In the condition shown in FIG. 1 the liquid that has been treated bypassing downward through the resin passes through the strainer 30 andtravels upwardly through the tube conduit 24 to the second tank port E.From this position the now treated liquid passes through the valve bodyfrom the second tank port E to the treated liquid outlet port B. Thetreated liquid is passed from the liquid outlet B to piping and to thedevices which use the treated liquid.

In the exemplary embodiment the valve controller operates the valve todeliver treated water from the brine port F of the valve to the brinetank at selected appropriate times. This is done in the exemplary systemso that the brine solution is available for delivery to the valve 10 andthe resin material 20 when required. In order to provide availablebrine, the valve controller is operative to depress plunger 66 downwardas represented by arrow P as shown in FIG. 2. Moving the plungerdownward is operative to move the movable valve member 64. Movement ofthe valve member 64 enables water that has been treated by passingthrough the resin and received at the second tank port E to be passedout of the valve through the brine port F.

In this valve configuration, the treated liquid passes through thepassage 65, through the screen 67 and into the chamber 69. From thechamber 69 the water flows into the interior of the body of the injector71 (later described in detail) and to the brine port F past the openvalve element 64. It should be noted that the check valve 73 preventsthe flow of untreated liquid into the body of the injector 71. Further,passage 59 which has a configuration similar to the passage whichincludes the injector body 71, is fluidly blocked by the plug 61 so asto require treated liquid to flow through the passage 65, the screen 67and chamber 69 into the injector body.

In the exemplary system treated water is passed out through the brineport for a sufficient time to enable production of suitable brinesolution by mixing of the water with water softener salt that has beenplaced in the brine tank. The production of the brine and themeasurement of the salt levels and other features associated with thebrine tank are discussed in the incorporated disclosures. As can beappreciated from FIG. 2, with the piston 34 positioned as shown, whiletreated liquid is being delivered to the brine tank the exemplary valvecontinues to deliver treated liquid from the second tank port E of thetank to the water outlet B.

After a period of operation of the exemplary system, the amount ofliquid such as water that has been treated by passing through the resinmaterial causes the ions in the resin material to change their characterto the point that the undesirable calcium and magnesium ions in theuntreated liquid are no longer satisfactorily replaced through the ionexchange with the more desirable sodium ions. When this conditionoccurs, the resin treatment material can be cleaned and regenerated inthe manner discussed in the incorporated disclosures and as describedherein, so as to return the resin material to satisfactory performance.In various embodiments the need to regenerate therein may be determinedon a timed basis, on the basis of the amount of liquid that has passedthrough the tank, or based upon sensing the properties of the treatedliquid that has been delivered from the outlet B through suitableelectronic sensors. As can be appreciated, in exemplary systems whilethe resin in the water softener is being regenerated, treated water maybe supplied to the devices and systems that use treated water from astorage tank holding a supply of treated water or by treating the waterwith another water treatment device.

Operation of the exemplary valve in a first step in a treatment mediaregeneration process is represented in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, thepiston 34 of the valve is moved so as to be disposed upward from thepositions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This is done in the exemplaryembodiment by moving the piston in the longitudinal direction bymovement of the actuator bracket 50 and the piston rod 46.

Movement of the piston 34 to the position shown in FIG. 3 causes theinlet and outlet ports A and B of the valve to be in fluid connectionwith the second tank port E. Further in this position of the piston, thefirst tank port D is in operative connection through the valve body withthe drain C. As represented by the water flow arrows shown in FIG. 3,the untreated liquid at the elevated pressure and some treated liquidwhich can be drawn back through the liquid outlet port B, pass throughthe valve to the second tank port E and downward through the tube 22.The liquid passes through the bottom of the tube and outwardly throughthe strainer. The liquid is dispersed and flows upwardly through theresin 20 so as to backwash the resin. The backwash represents a reversalfrom the normal flow during liquid treatment and causes particles andother materials that have been captured in the resin to flow upward inthe tank.

The liquid flowing upward in the tank flows into the first tank port Dand through the valve body to the drain port C. As a result, theparticulates and other contaminants that can be dislodged and removed bybackwashing the resin are caused to flow out the top of the tank,through the valve and are discharged to a suitable waste drain throughthe drain port C. The backwash portion of the cycle continues for asuitable time in accordance with the programming of the valve controlleror associated control device to achieve the release of the majority ofthe particulates and contaminants that have been captured in the resinmaterial. The backwash operation may be continued on a timed or otherbasis sufficient to complete the operation.

At the conclusion of the backwash function, the exemplary valvecontroller is operative to change the condition of the valve to thatshown in FIG. 4. In the position of the piston 34 shown in FIG. 4,liquid under higher pressure from the inlet A as well as liquid pulledfrom the outlet B passes through the valve body to the first tank portD. In this condition, the exemplary valve controller is operative todepress the plunger 66 and move the movable valve member 64 so as toopen a flow path in the valve body. This causes the brine port F toenable solution to be received by the valve from the brine tank, intothe flow of liquid as it moves through the valve body and to the firsttank port D at the top of the tank. In exemplary embodiments brinedelivered to the brine port F may be pressurized through operation of apump or similar device so as to facilitate the delivery of the brineinto the valve body. In other arrangements, the brine may be moved intothe flow of liquid through venturi action or other suitable action whichis suitable for causing the brine to be moved into the brine port F andmixed in the water that is flowing through the flow cavities of thevalve body 12.

In the exemplary arrangement, treated liquid flows through the passage65 and the screen 67 into the chamber 69. From the chamber, the liquidflows through an opening 63 and into the interior of the body of theinjector 71. The incoming brine from brine port F mixes with the liquidwater in the interior of the injector body and flows in the direction inwhich flow is permitted past the check valve 73 at the inward end of theinjector 71. Once the brine containing liquid passes the check valve 73,it flows through an interior passage of the valve to the first tank portD.

In the position of the exemplary valve element and valve controllerrepresented in FIG. 4, liquid including the fresh water softener saltsolution passes through the area at the top of the tank and passesdownward into the resin material 20. The ions from the brine materialflow into and migrate in the resin material, regenerating the supply ofsodium ions therein and displacing the calcium, magnesium and other ionscurrently bonded to the resin particles therein. The water and the ionsthat are displaced from the resin material pass through the strainer 30at the bottom of the tube 22 and flow upwardly to the second tank port Eat the bottom of the valve. In this position of the valve piston 34 theliquid passing upwardly through the tube 22 passes through thelongitudinal flow cavity 38 of the piston, through the flow cavity atthe top of the valve body and out the drain port C. As a result,undesirable material is washed out of the resin and moved to the drainport.

The condition of the valve represented in FIG. 4 is maintained throughoperation of the valve controller for a period of time sufficient todraw an amount of brine into the tank that will regenerate the resin.Thereafter the exemplary valve controller operates to cause the plunger66 to no longer be positioned to cause the movable valve member 64 toenable brine to enter the valve body through the brine port F. Asrepresented in FIG. 5, the valve controller changes the position ofpiston 34 such that untreated liquid from the inlet A and liquidotherwise received from the outlet B pass through the valve body to thefirst tank port D. The check valve 73 of the injector 71 prevents flowto chamber 69 through the injector. The liquid which no longer has thenew brine mixed therein passes downwardly through the bed of resinmaterial 20 through the strainer and into the tube conduit 24 within thetube 22.

In this condition of the exemplary valve, the liquid from the tubeconduit passes upwardly through the tube 22 and the second tank port E,through the longitudinal flow cavity 38 in the piston and outwardly tothe drain port C of the valve body. Such flow through the resin providesa rinse function which is operative to cause any remaining regeneratebrine material in excess of that which is captured within the resinmaterial to be rinsed out and passed to the drain. The condition of thevalve shown in FIG. 5 is maintained through operation of the valvecontroller for a sufficient time to clear the excess regenerate materialfrom the tank. This may be done in some embodiments on a timed basis orother basis sufficient to accomplish the function.

Generally after regenerating the resin material as just described, theexemplary valve is returned by the valve controller to the flowcondition which is shown in FIG. 1. In this condition, untreated liquidwater enters the inlet A of the valve body, passes through the valvebody to the first tank port D. The liquid then passes through the resin20 where it undergoes treatment to remove undesirable materials and ionexchange is accomplished. The treated liquid then passes upwardlythrough the tube 22 to the second tank port E. The treated liquid thenpasses out of the valve body through the outlet B through which it isdelivered to the liquid distribution system in the building and thewater use devices. Generally the valve remains in this condition untilthe cycle for regenerating the resin material needs to be repeated.

It should be noted that in the exemplary embodiment the position of thepiston 34 in the rinse position of the valve shown in FIG. 5, isimmediately linearly longitudinally adjacent to the piston position 34when the valve is in its usual service mode of operation in whichuntreated liquid is treated by flowing through the resin in the resin inthe tank 14. This configuration minimizes the introduction of untreatedwater or other undesirable material when the condition of the valve ischanged between the last step in which the remaining regenerate materialis rinsed and removed from the tank, and the valve causes the system togo back into normal service mode. Of course it should be understood thatthis approach is exemplary and in other arrangements other approachesmay be used.

The exemplary control valve 10 further provides the function of a valveshutoff which in the exemplary system separates the liquid treatmenttank 14 from the untreated liquid inlet A. This function can avoid theneed for an external shutoff valve to prevent untreated liquid fromflowing to the control valve and the tank.

FIG. 6A represents the condition of the exemplary valve 10 in a shutoffcondition. As can be appreciated in the exemplary system when it isdesired to shut off the flow of untreated liquid to the valve and to thetank, the valve controller operates to cause the piston 34 to be movedto the position shown in FIG. 6A. In this position of the piston 34, theflow of untreated liquid into the inlet A is stopped by the position ofthe piston in which the annular flow cavities then connected to theinlet are not open to any other flow cavities within the valve.

As represented in FIG. 6A, the first tank port D is likewise incommunication with a flow cavity within the valve that is not fluidlyconnected to any other flow cavity. In this position of the piston, theliquid outlet B is in operative connection with the second tank port E.Liquid pressure is effectively maintained at the outlet B unless adevice such as a water use device is turned on which reduces suchpressure. As a result, flow is effectively discontinued on a selectivebasis through actuation of the valve controller. Of course it should beunderstood that this particular configuration is exemplary and in otherembodiments, other configurations may be utilized for purposes ofshutting off the flow between the liquid inlet A and the liquid outletB.

FIG. 6B represents the exemplary valve in a further shutoff condition.In the shutoff condition shown in FIG. 6B, the exemplary piston 34 is ina somewhat different longitudinal position from the position of thepiston in FIG. 6A. In the position shown in FIG. 6B, the flow ofuntreated liquid into inlet A is stopped and untreated liquid suppliedat the inlet does not flow through the valve to any other port.

However, in the position of the piston 34 in FIG. 6B fluid pressure atoutlet port B is relieved to the drain port C. This is achieved byhaving fluid ports B, E, D and C in fluid communication. In thisposition of the valve element almost all the fluid pressure is releasedfrom the outlet port C as well as from the lines and devices of thewater delivery system to which the valve is connected.

In some exemplary arrangements the valve may be placed with the valveelement in the shut off position shown in FIG. 6A or FIG. 6B dependingon the circumstances under which flow through the valve is shut off. Forexample in systems for management such as described in the incorporateddisclosures of U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 14/698,381 and/or14/698,399, the valve may be controlled to be in the shutoff conditionwith pressure maintained on the outlet port B when the liquid flow is tobe shut off, but the delivery system is to remain pressurized at thenormal level. In such circumstances the exemplary valve is configured asshown in FIG. 6A. However, if the management system operates in responseto conditions where the outlet port and liquid distribution system isprogrammed to be depressurized, the controller operates to configure theexemplary valve in the shutoff position shown in FIG. 6B. This may bedone for example, when a probable system leak is detected. In suchcircumstances the central controller of the liquid management system mayoperate to minimize damage, by not only shutting off further incomingliquid, but also by relieving pressure at the outlet port B so thatliquid such as water in the distribution system can pass out of thevalve to the drain C. This may reduce the amount of liquid which comesout of the system at the site of the leak. Of course this approach isexemplary and in other embodiments, other approaches may be used.

A further feature of the exemplary embodiment of valve 10 when used inthe exemplary water treatment system is the ability to operate the valvecontroller to allow incoming liquid to bypass the water treatment tank14. For example in an exemplary system there are some situations such aswhen delivering water to an external spigot to wash off a sidewalk,irrigate plants and the like, when it may not matter that the water isuntreated. Further in some situations the amount of water required for aparticular activity may be relatively large compared to the amount ofwater that is used in circumstances where it is highly desirable for thewater to be treated by having been treated by having passed through thetank 14.

In situations where it is desirable to deliver untreated liquid for useby a particular device, the exemplary valve controller may be operatedto cause the piston 34 in the valve 10 to be moved to the longitudinalposition shown in FIG. 7. In this piston position, untreated liquidwhich is delivered at the inlet A is passed through the valve bodydirectly to the outlet B without passing through the resin material 20in the tank. In this way, the untreated liquid is provided to the wateruse devices for as long as untreated water is desired. After theactivity is accomplished for which the untreated water will be used,suitable signals can be delivered to the valve controller to return thevalve condition to that shown in FIG. 1 in which the water is againtreated by passing through the tank.

Of course it should be understood that the valve configuration shown isexemplary and in other embodiments other valve configurations havingdifferent valve body arrangements, valve element configurations, portsand other structures may be utilized. Further, while the exemplaryembodiment has been described in connection with a water treatmentprocess, other embodiments may be utilized in connection with othertypes of fluid treatment equipment and processes.

The exemplary embodiment of the valve controller includes features thatenable the valve controller housing to be readily installed inconnection with the valve. Further this exemplary construction enablesthe valve controller to be readily replaced or serviced.

An exemplary embodiment of the valve controller 70 is represented inFIGS. 8 and 9. The exemplary valve controller is operative toselectively move the actuator bracket 50 and the piston rod 46 toposition the piston 34 longitudinally within the valve body 12 in themanner previously discussed herein. The actuator 70 may include thefeatures and devices of the incorporated disclosures so as to carry outthis function. Of course it should be appreciated that in otherembodiments, other types of structures, devices and mechanisms may beutilized for purposes of providing selectively controlled movement ofone or more valve elements.

In the exemplary embodiment of the controller 70 a valve base 72 isconfigured to be in operative connection with the valve body 12 of thevalve 10. A valve controller housing 74 is configured to be selectivelyengageable with the valve base and placed in an operative position inwhich the valve controller may change the condition of the valve. Thevalve controller housing 74 is also configured to be readilydisengageable from the valve base for reconfiguration, replacement orrepair.

In the exemplary arrangement, the valve controller housing and the valvebase include interengaging projections and slots to provide for thesecure engagement and selective disengagement of the valve base andhousing. Although it should be understood that the interengagingprojections and slots may be in fixed connection with either of theengageable components, in the exemplary embodiment the valve baseincludes a pair of elongated rail projections 76. The pair of elongatedrail projections 76 extend on opposed sides of the piston rod 46 andextend generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in whichthe piston rod is moveable.

The exemplary elongated rail projections are configured to be engaged incaptured relation by elongated recessed slots 78. Elongated slots 78extend in portions of the valve controller housing 74. The exemplaryslots 78 are configured such that the rails 76 once extended therein arecaptured and immovable in all directions except along the direction ofthe rail projections designated by arrows R in FIG. 8. The secureengagement of the projections and slots may be achieved in differentembodiments by interengaging tabs, flanges or other structures on theprojections and slots which only enable such items to be engaged anddisengaged by movement along the direction of arrows R.

The exemplary valve controller housing 74 further includes a pair ofdeformable members 80. Deformable members 80 each terminate at a hook82. Each hook 82 is configured to engage and hold tabs 84 that areoperatively connected with at least one wall when the valve controllerhousing is in the operative position as shown in FIG. 9. It should beunderstood, however, that the hook and tab configuration shown isexemplary and in other arrangements, the configuration may be reversedsuch that the hooks are included in engagement with the valve base andthe structures for engaging the hooks are included on the valvecontroller housing. Further, other structures may be utilized forselectively holding and releasing the valve base and valve controllerhousing in the operative position.

In the exemplary arrangement, the actuator bracket 50 is configured tobe readily operatively engaged with and disengaged from the structureswhich operate to selectively move the actuator bracket which are part ofthe valve controller housing. In the exemplary arrangement, the actuatorbracket 50 includes a longitudinally elongated guide yoke portion 86.Guide yoke portion 86 includes a longitudinally elongated guide slot 88.The exemplary actuator bracket is further configured to include anactuator recess 90. Actuator recess 90 includes an elongated actuatorslot that is elongated in a direction transverse to the longitudinaldirection.

In an exemplary arrangement, the guide slot 88 in the guide yoke portionis configured to accept a guide pin 92 on the housing in movablerelation therein. In the exemplary arrangement, the valve controllerhousing 74 includes a pair of deformable holding projections 94. Theholding projections are spaced apart in symmetric relation relative toguide pin 92 and are sized to enable the guide yoke portion 86 to extendin movable relation between the holding projections. In the exemplaryarrangement, each of the holding projections includes an angled hook end96. Hook ends 96 of the holding projections 94 extend in facing relationand are configured to enable the guide yoke portion to be moved betweenthe holding projections and held between the projections by the hookends. As a result, the guide yoke portion is enabled to move in alongitudinal direction while positioned between the holding projectionsand in guided relation in the longitudinal direction by the guide pin92. Further the hook ends 96 serve to prevent the guide yoke portionfrom moving out of the area between the holding projections and beingdisengaged from the guide pin.

It should be understood that this approach is exemplary and in otherarrangements, one or more guide pins may be positioned on an actuatorbracket which engage with slots or other openings in the housing.Further other structures may be utilized for engaging the actuatorbracket or similar structures in releasable movable connection.

Further in the exemplary arrangement, the actuator recess 90 isconfigured to receive therein an actuator pin 98. Actuator pin 98 of theexemplary arrangement is operative to be selectively moved in an arcuatepath responsive to operation of the valve controller 70. In theexemplary arrangement, the actuator pin 98 is positioned on a rotatablemember that is selectively rotated so as to control the relativevertical position of the actuator pin, and thus control the movement andlongitudinal position of the piston 34 through longitudinal movement ofthe actuator bracket 50.

In the exemplary arrangement, the actuator pin is selectively moved inan arcuate path which causes the pin 98 to move relatively transverselywithin the actuator recess 90. The selective positioning of the actuatorpin 98 along its arcuate path as determined through operation of thevalve controller 70 is usable to selectively position the actuatorbracket 50 and the piston 34 in operative connection therewith, in thedesired positions to achieve the desired flow conditions through thevalve.

Further, the exemplary arrangement enables the bracket to be readilyoperatively disengaged from the valve controller housing 74. As can beappreciated, disengagement of the deformable members 80 from the tabsallows relative movement of the valve base 72 and the valve controllerhousing 74 along the direction of arrow R and in an opposed directionfrom when the base and housing are being engaged. In the exemplaryarrangement, the holding projections 94 are movable and deformable toenable the hook ends 96 to release the guide yoke portion 86 of thebracket 50 from being held in intermediate relation of the holdingprojections 94. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment the actuatorpin 98 may be moved out of the elongated actuator slot 90. Thus theactuator housing and the components attached thereto may be readilydisengaged from the valve base 72. Thereafter a new valve controllerhousing 74 may be readily engaged with the valve base 72 and theactuator bracket 50. Such replacement may be done for repair ormaintenance purposes. Alternatively an alternative valve actuatorhousing may be installed to provide additional or different features andfunctions for operation of the valve and related components such as theexemplary water treatment system. For example a valve controller thatoperates based on wired connections with other system components may bereplaced with a valve controller that communicates wirelessly with othercomponents, and vice versa. Alternatively the valve controller may bereplaced to convert the valve and associated equipment to operate via adifferent method of operation. Of course it should be understood thatthese approaches are exemplary and in other embodiments, otherapproaches may be used.

Further in the exemplary arrangement as shown in FIG. 9 the valvecontroller housing 74 includes a rotatable member 100 which includes camsurfaces 102 thereon. The cam surfaces 102 are configured to operativelyengage the plunger 66 and displace the plunger so as to control themovement of the movable valve member 64 within the valve body. In theexemplary arrangement the rotatable member 100 and cam surfaces 102 areconfigured so that the valve controller housing 74 can be disengagedfrom the valve base 72 without interference with the plunger member 66.This further facilitates the ready installation and replacement of thevalve controller housing. As can be appreciated, the exemplary valvecontroller includes a pair of cam surfaces 102 which enables opening themovable valve member twice during a single rotation of the rotatablemember. This may correspond, for example, to operation of the valve andits associated equipment in connection with a method that requiresopening of the movable valve element 64 two times during a particularoperation cycle such as the one previously described. Of course itshould be understood that in other embodiments, different numbers of camsurfaces may be utilized. Further other exemplary arrangements mayinclude valves with additional valve elements and cam members so as toenable the introduction of other liquids and fluids into the valve atvarious selected cycle times during operation of the valve and theassociated equipment.

As represented in FIG. 9, the exemplary valve controller includes amotor 104. The motor 104 is in operative connection with a transmissiongenerally referred to as 106. The transmission of the exemplaryembodiment includes a plurality of connected gears or similar motiontransmission devices that are selectively moved through operation of themotor 104. The transmission 106 of the exemplary arrangement isoperative to move the actuator pin 98, rotatable member 100 and otherstructures which control the positioning of the valve components in acoordinated manner so as to achieve the desired coordinated operation ofthe valve structures. Further the exemplary valve controller includes anencoder 108. The encoder 108 moves in coordinated relation with one ormore components of the transmission. One or more sensors (such as anoptical sensor) is in operative connection with the encoder throughoperation of control circuitry such as is described in the incorporateddisclosures. The encoder and associated sensor or sensors may beutilized to determine the then current status and/or position of thevalve components so as to enable the valve controller to selectivelymove the various components associated with the valve in the desiredmanner. Of course it should be understood that the transmission, motor,encoder and other structures of the valve controller shown are exemplaryand in other embodiments, other types of valve controller arrangementsmay be utilized.

FIG. 10 shows schematically an alternative embodiment of a control valvegenerally indicated 110. Control valve 110 is generally similar tocontrol valve 10 previously described except as otherwise mentioned.Control valve 110 corresponds to a control valve that has beenreconfigured so as to enable the carrying out of different functionalprocesses as discussed herein.

Control valve 110 includes a valve body 112. Valve body 112 isconfigured for operative attachment to the liquid treatment tank 114.This may be for example by releasable threaded connection. In exemplaryarrangements valve body 112 may be identical to body 12. Like thepreviously described water treatment tank, the exemplary tank has a topportion 116 and a bottom portion 118. The exemplary liquid treatmenttank houses water treatment material such as a resin material 120. Theresin material may be one of the types like those previously described.Of course other types of liquid treatment materials or combinations ofmaterials may be used in other embodiments. Further it should beunderstood that the water treatment process performed using the controlvalve is merely one example of an application for the particular controlvalve arrangement.

The exemplary liquid treatment tank includes therein a tube 122 whichprovides a conduit 124 between the top and bottom portions of the tank.The top end of the tube 126 is operatively connected to the valve body112. The bottom end of the tube 128 is in operative connection with astrainer 130.

Similar to the previously described control valve 10, the valve body 112includes at least one movable valve element. The exemplary valveincludes a generally cylindrical, longitudinally extending bore 132. Apiston 134 is selectively movable in the longitudinal direction withinthe bore 132. It should be noted that the exemplary piston 134 has thesame configuration as piston 34 of the previously described embodiment.As in the prior embodiment the exemplary valve is configured to enablethe piston to be changeable.

As discussed in connection with the previously described embodiment,piston 134 includes a plurality of annular recesses which define annularflow cavities 136. Annular flow cavities also generally surround thebore and are longitudinally spaced within the body of the valve. Piston134 also includes a longitudinal flow cavity therethrough 138. Piston134 includes a first longitudinal end 140 and a second longitudinal end142. As in the case with the previously described embodiment, the secondlongitudinal end includes a threaded portion adjacent the secondlongitudinal end 144 which is releasably engageable with a coupling 144.The coupling 144 of the exemplary arrangement provides for operativereleasable connection of the piston 134 and a piston rod 146. As withthe prior embodiment, the coupling 144 enables fluid to flowtherethrough through the longitudinal flow cavity 138 of the piston.

In the exemplary arrangement associated with the control valve 110, thepiston 146 is in operative connection with an actuator bracket 150.Actuator bracket 150 is configured to be moved by a valve controllerwhich may be similar to the valve controller 70 previously discussed. Ofcourse it should be understood that in other embodiments, other types ofvalve controllers may be used.

Like previously described control valve 10, control valve 110 furtherincludes an inlet port 152 which is labeled A for purposes of brevityherein. The valve also includes an outlet port 154 labeled B. Theexemplary valve further includes a drain port 156 labeled C. Valve 110further includes a first tank port 158 labeled D and a second tank port160 labeled E. The exemplary valve 110 further includes a brine port 162(labeled F). The brine port F similar to the previously describedembodiment, is connected to a fluid passage within the valve which isopened and closed through selective movement of a movable valve member164. The movable valve member 164 is moved between open and closedpositions through movement of a plunger 166 which is biased toward thevalve member closing position by a spring 168. As is the case with theprior described embodiment, the plunger 166 may be selectively movedbetween the open and closed positions of the valve through operation ofthe valve controller. This may be done by engagement with cam surfacessuch as cam surfaces 102 previously described. Of course in otherarrangements, other approaches may be used.

Similar to the previously described valve, valve 110 includes a flowpassage 165 which is fluidly connected to a chamber 169. A screen 167 ispositioned such that fluid passes through the screen 167 to reach thechamber 169.

Valve 110 includes a passage 170 similar to passage 59 that is disposedbelow the passage 165 as shown and a further passage 172 similar topassage 75 that is disposed above passage 165. An injector 171 that issimilar to injector 71 is positioned in passage 170. The injector 171includes a check valve 194. A plug 174 which may be similar to the plug61 of the previously described embodiment is positioned in passage 172.In the exemplary embodiment a fluid passage that is not separately shownextends between the passage 172 and passage 170. This fluid passage isseparate from the fluid passage 165 and enables the brine port F tocommunicate with both passages 170 and 172. In this exemplaryarrangement, the plug 174 positioned in the passage 172 enables thebrine port F to be in communication with the passage 170 and theinjector 171. This enables the injector body to be in fluidcommunication with the brine port when the valve member 164 is open.

In the exemplary valve 110 a removable cover 176 closes the chamber 169.In the exemplary arrangement suitable sealing elements such as gasketsand fastening members such as screws are provided to enable holding thecover to the rest of the valve body and for maintaining the chamber 169in fluid tight engagement therewith. In the exemplary arrangement thecover 176 enables selectively accessing the passages 170 and 172 as wellas the plug and injector that may be positioned therein. This enablesthe exemplary valve 110 to be configured such that the injector may beselectively positioned in either one of the fluid passages 170 or 172.Likewise the plug 174 can be selectively positioned in the other one ofthe passages 170 or 172 in which the injector 171 is not currentlypositioned.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are cutaway views of the portion of the valve body 112and the passages 170 and 172. In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 11 and12, the injector 171 is shown positioned in passage 172 while the plug174 is positioned in passage 170. This corresponds to the configurationof the injector and plug shown in valve 10 that has the positions of theinjector and plug reversed from that shown in valve 110. Thus as can beappreciated, the exemplary embodiment of valve 110 enables a personassembling the valve initially to selectively position the injector body171 and plug 174 in either passage 170 or passage 172 as is appropriatefor the operation of the particular control valve. Further thisexemplary configuration may enable a service technician or personmodifying the valve to remove the cover and change the positions of theinjector body and the plug so as to modify the operational capabilitiesof the valve. Further in other alternative arrangements the valve may beconfigured to have plugs positioned in both of the passages 170 and 172.This might be done, for example, to have a valve that operates not tohave brine solution or other material introduced into the liquid thatpasses through the valve. Alternatively in still other arrangementsinjectors or other elements may be positioned in both of the fluidpassages. This might be done, for example, in valve configurations wherein multiple positions of the piston, it is desirable to introduce brinesolution or other material into the liquid flow.

It should also be appreciated that alternative arrangements may beutilized in connection a valve configuration like that described. Forexample, check valves or other arrangements may be utilized so as toallow fluid flow in an opposite direction from that permitted by thecheck valve of the injector so that fluid may be enabled to flow intothe chamber 169 in certain longitudinal positions of the piston forproducing a desired flow path. Further in other alternativearrangements, the chamber 169 may have multiple segregated areas so asto be in connection with additional ports or flow paths through thevalve. Such capabilities may provide additional flow alternatives to thevalve which enable the valve to provide additional capabilities. As canbe appreciated, those skilled in the art can develop numerous changeablevalve configurations suitable for different processes and equipment fromthe description provided herein.

Further in the exemplary arrangement the plug 174 includes disposedannular seals 178 and 180. These disposed annular seals are comprised ofresilient material that engage the adjacent walls of the flow passage soas to provide fluid tight engagement therewith. However, as can beappreciated, the body portion 182 of the plug 174 that extends betweenthe seals is spaced inwardly from the annular wall bounding the passage170. This provides the capability for fluid to occupy and flow in thearea between the annular wall bounding the passage and the body portion182 without the fluid being able to flow directly into the chamber 169or the passage 184 which can fluidly connect with the area adjacent tothe second tank port 160. As can be appreciated, this exemplaryconstruction of the plug 174 when positioned in the passage 172 asrepresented in FIG. 10 enables the brine solution which enters thepassage 172 to flow around the body portion 182 of the plug member andinto the chamber 170 to reach the injector 171.

As also shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the exemplary injector 171 includesdisposed annular resilient seals 186, 188 and 190 which engage insealing relation the adjacent annular wall bounding the passage 172. Theexemplary injector includes a liquid inlet 192 similar to opening 63 ata first end, and an outlet from the check valve 194 at the opposed end.In the exemplary arrangement the seals 186 and 188 bound an area 198which can be filled with the brine solution which is received thereinwhen the valve member 164 is open. Brine in the area 198 is drawnthrough openings 200 in the injector body as liquid flows therethrough.This causes the brine solution to be mixed with the liquid as it flowsthrough the injector body in the manner previously discussed. Treatedwater can also be delivered from area 198 to the port F in anappropriate valve condition like that previously discussed. Of course itshould be understood that this injector configuration is exemplary andin other valve and system arrangements, other approaches andconfigurations may be used.

In the exemplary system used in conjunction with valve 110 and shown inFIG. 10, the valve may be operated in conjunction with a water treatmenttank in a manner similar to that previously described in connection withvalve 10. However, in this exemplary embodiment, the selectivepositioning of the piston 134 by the valve controller associated withthe valve enables the regeneration of the resin material 120 housed inthe tank 114 via the upward flow of the brine solution rather than via adownward flow of the brine solution such as is described in connectionwith the operation of valve 10 and represented in FIG. 4. In the priordescribed example of the system used in connection with valve 10, thebrine solution acts to regenerate the resin material housed in the tankby flowing from the upper surface thereof and to the bottom area and outthe tube 22. In the operation of valve 110, regeneration is accomplishedby distributing the brine solution initially from the bottom end of thetube 128 and having the solution migrate radially outwardly from thestrainer and upwardly through the resin so as to provide forregeneration thereof. This may be more effective for some resinmaterials or tank configurations. Further it should be appreciated thatbecause in some exemplary arrangements the piston 134 and valve body 112may be identical to piston 34 and valve body 12 respectively, the changein capability from downflow regeneration to upflow regeneration may beaccomplished by changing the respective positions of the injector andthe plug within the valve body and changing the programming associatedwith the controller so that the controller positions the piston in adifferent position (e.g. the position shown in FIG. 4 for downflow andthe position shown in FIG. 10 for upflow). This is useful in that theneed for servicers and installers to have a stock of different valvesfor upflow and downflow regeneration can be avoided.

As can be appreciated, the method for configuring the exemplary valvefor either upflow or downflow regeneration includes removing the cover176 to access the chamber 169. The injector 171 and the plug 174 arepositioned in the passages 170, 172 in the manner appropriate for theregeneration approach desired for the unit. The cover 176 is theninstalled to fluidly seal chamber 169. The valve controller 70 isprogrammed via one or more inputs through an appropriate input devicesuch as a laptop or handheld computer, which inputs controllerexecutable instructions that cause the piston to move to the appropriateposition for the regeneration approach to be used. Further these methodsteps can be used to change the regeneration approach of an existingunit. This capability of the exemplary embodiments to be configured asdesired without the need to change valve bodies, pistons or actuatorscan be useful and cost effective.

In the exemplary operation of the valve 110, the valve is enabled tooperate in a manner similar to that discussed in connection with valve10 and is represented in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-7.

It should be appreciated that in the exemplary arrangement, the plug 174is configured so that treated liquid such as water can be directed outof the brine port F in a manner similar to that described in FIG. 2 dueto the configuration of the plug and the annular flow chamber whichextends around the central body portion 182 thereof. As a result,treated liquid is enabled to be delivered from the area 198 of theinjector body, to the brine port and into a brine tank holding materialso as to produce a brine solution which can later be introduced toregenerate the resin in a manner like that discussed in connection withthe prior embodiment.

When the resin material 120 in the liquid treatment tank 114 is to beregenerated, the piston 134 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 10.In this position, brine solution produced in the brine tank is drawninto the brine port F due to the opening of the movable valve element164. The brine is drawn through the annular chamber around the centralbody portion 182 of the plug 174 and passes through the fluid passageinto the area 198 of the injector body 171. Liquid flows from the inletA through the passage 165 and into the chamber 169. From the chamber169, the liquid flows through the injector body 171 where it is mixedwith the brine solution and passes downwardly through the tube 122. Theregenerate brine laden liquid then passes through the bottom of the tube128 through the strainer and upwardly through the resin material 120where it replaces the ions of contaminants that have been removed fromthe liquid previously treated. The released ions and other contaminantsflow upwardly through the first tank port D and out through the drain Cof the valve. This process is carried out for a sufficient time so as toregenerate the capabilities of the resin to remove undesirable materialsfrom liquid which is passed therethrough after completion of the resinregeneration cycle. Of course it should be understood that theseapproaches and configurations are exemplary and in other embodiments,other configurations and process approaches may be utilized. Further itmay be appreciated that the water treatment application for valve 110and the structures and elements described in connection therewith isonly one of many exemplary applications in which such elements andstructures may be used.

An exemplary water management system which is alternatively referred toherein as a liquid management system, will now be described. Severalfunctional block diagrams of example systems are illustrated anddescribed herein for purposes of explanation; however, it is to beunderstood that functionality that is described as being carried out bycertain system components may be performed by multiple components.Similarly, for instance, a component may be configured to performfunctionality that is described as being carried out by multiplecomponents. For purposes of this disclosure, liquid conditioners includedevices and systems that are operative to improve the quality of wateror water-based liquids. Liquid conditioners may include water softeners,filters, disinfecting devices, systems that oxidize contaminants andother similar water conditioners and systems. Exemplary embodiments ofsuch liquid conditioners and the devices associated therewith aredescribed in the following patent applications, the disclosures of eachof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: U.S.patent application Ser. Nos. 13/492,391; 14/024,918; 61/986,423;62/069,897; 62/119,507; 62/522,139; 62/522,294; 15/261,442; 15/590,733;and Ser. No. 15/590,755.

With reference to FIG. 13, an example system 1000 that facilitatesliquid management is illustrated. The liquid management system 1000 mayinclude a master controller 1020. An example of a master controller thatmay have one or more of the features described herein may be acontroller associated with the master control valve shown in U.S.Application No. 61/986,423 filed Apr. 30, 2014 which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The exemplary master controller 1020 may include one or more processors1040 in operative connection with one or more data stores 1060. As usedherein, a processor corresponds to any electronic device that isconfigured via processor executable instructions 1160 implemented ashardware circuits, software, firmware, and/or applications that areoperative to enable the processor to process data and/or carry out otheractions. For example, this processor of the master controller and anyother processor described herein may correspond to one or more (or acombination) of a microprocessor, CPU, FPGA, ASIC, or any otherintegrated circuit (IC) or other type of circuit that is capable ofprocessing data in a controller, computer, server, or other type ofelectronic device. Also, it should be appreciated that a data store maycorrespond to one or more of a volatile or non-volatile memory device,RAM, flash memory, hard drive, SSD, database, and/or any other type ofdevice that is operative to store data.

The exemplary master controller described herein may also include amaster wireless communication device 1080 which is alternativelyreferred to herein as a wireless portal, that enables the mastercontroller to wirelessly communicate messages with a plurality of slaveassemblies 1100. Such slave assemblies may have a slave controller 1120that includes a corresponding and/or compatible slave wirelesscommunication device 1180 also alternatively referred to herein as awireless portal, that enables bi-directional communication with themaster communication device 1080.

Such master and slave wireless communication devices may includecomponents having low-power digital radios based on the IEEE 802.15.4standard or other wireless standard. An example may include MiWi®modules provided by Microchip Technologies of Chandler, Ariz. Otherexamples of communication devices that may be used include ZigBeecompatible modules. However, it should be appreciated that inalternative example embodiments alternative and/or additional types ofthe wireless communication devices 1080, 1180 may be used such as thosethat are operative to carry out Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth communications(i.e., devices that are compatible with IEEE 802.11 and/or Bluetooth SIGstandards).

As with the master controller 1020, the exemplary slave controller 1120may include at least one processor 1140 and at least one data store1200. Processor executable instructions 1500 may cause the processor1140 to process data, make control determinations, communicate messagesand/or carry out other actions. The slave assembly 1100 may also includeor be in operative connection with further devices and/or assembliesthat are operative to be controlled by the slave controller responsiveto wireless communications from the master controller 1020. In exemplaryembodiments the devices controlled by slave controllers may includecomponents of water conditioners or other devices as discussedhereafter.

In an example embodiment, each data store of each slave controller mayinclude preprogrammed function data 1200 indicating a respectivefunction of the respective slave controller and the controlled device ordevices with which it is associated, which is considered part of theslave assembly. When the described system is being initially configured(or at other times), the master controller may be operative towirelessly output at least one message to each of the slave controllerswithin range of wireless communications, which messages cause the slavecontrollers associated with the assemblies, which are sometimes referredto herein as devices, to communicate the respective function data 1200back to the master controller 1020. The master controller may then storethe received function data in the data store 1060 in correlated relationwith respective unique network identifiers 1220 (e.g., MAC address, IPaddresses or other unique ID) associated with the respective slavecontrollers 1120 and respective slave controller communications.

FIG. 28 is an exemplary flow chart which shows the high level activitiesexecuted by the master controller and the slave controllers inconnection with the master controller establishing communication withslave controllers, and which is operative to configure the mastercontroller and a respective slave controller to join in the localwireless network controlled by the master controller.

As represented in FIG. 28, in some exemplary embodiments the process ofsearching for and establishing connections with the slave controllersmay be initiated by a user actuating a manual input device such as abutton associated with the master controller. In other exemplaryembodiments, a user interface device such as a separate portable tabletcomputer or other device may be utilized to provide one or more inputsthat cause the master controller to be placed in a search mode.Alternatively, in other embodiments the process for establishingcommunications between the master controller and the slave controllersmay be initiated from a mobile application that operates on a portableuser interface device such as a smart phone or tablet. In someembodiments such communications from the portable user interface may bevia a local wireless network, Wi-Fi network or Internet connection. Asdescribed in FIG. 28, the master controller of an exemplary embodimentsends communications wirelessly and receives messages from devices thatrespond. New devices that have not previously been configured tocommunicate with the master controller send data that identifies theirproperties, functionality and/or associated device. Such messages mayalso include identifying data or other data which is indicative ofwhether the device is allowed to join the network. As can beappreciated, certain security features may be applied to the informationthat is communicated to assure that only appropriate devices are allowedto join in the wireless network. Further, communications with thedevices may be encrypted via public key encryption or other suitablemethods for purposes of securing the communications.

As represented in FIG. 28, the master controller determines if the slavecontroller is allowed to join the network based on its functionality andother credentials. If so, the master controller adds the device to itsdevice table and will communicate with the slave controller to indicatethat it has been joined in the network. Alternatively, if the mastercontroller determines that the slave controller does not qualify to bejoined in the network, a message is sent to the slave controllerindicating that it has not been joined in the network. In some exemplaryarrangements certain of the slave controllers include wireless repeatingtransceivers. These wireless repeating transceivers receive the wirelessmessages from the master controller and re-transmit them wirelessly toother slave controllers. A slave controller may communicate to themaster controller through multiple intermediate slave controllers. Suchcommunications may be used to greatly extend the wireless range of thesignals from the master controller. Other slave controllers may notinclude wireless repeating transceivers, and therefore such slavecontrollers must be within range of at least one of the mastercontroller or a slave controller including a wireless repeatingtransceiver. Of course it should be understood that the approachrepresented in FIG. 28 is exemplary and in other arrangements, otherapproaches may be used.

In an example embodiment, the master controller is configured (e.g.,programmed) to control each respective slave controller and the devicesin the associated slave assembly based at least in part on the functiondata indicating the respective function of each slave assembly. However,it should be appreciated that even though the master controller isconfigured to control a plurality of slave controllers (and theirrespective devices), the implementation of the described system mayinclude as few as one slave assembly. Such a system may then be modifiedto include additional slave assemblies in order to expand thecapabilities of the water management system.

In some exemplary implementations of the described liquid managementsystem 1000, at least one of the slave assemblies may be in operativeconnection with a slave device 1600 that functions as a liquidmanagement device 1320. As used herein, a liquid management device is adevice that is operative to affect liquid that is moved through a liquidnetwork 1240.

Such a liquid network in a household or other building may include awater source 1260 such as a connection to a well water source,reservoir, cistern, municipal water source, or other water source. Theliquid network may also include plumbing 1280 connected to the liquidsource such as one or more pipes through which liquid flows. Inaddition, the liquid network may include one or more water consumptiondevices 1300 connected to the plumbing such as a faucet, a hose bib, asprinkler system, an ice maker, a washing machine, a dishwasher, adrinking fountain, or any other device that consumes or uses water.

In this described system, the master controller is operative to controlthe at least one slave assembly to cause the liquid management device tooperate via communication of wireless messages with the at least oneslave assembly. Examples of liquid management devices 1320 that arecontrolled by one or more slave assemblies may include liquidconditioners such as a water softener, a filter, sterilization device,contaminant oxidation device, a reverse osmosis device, an ultravioletlight treatment device, or any combination thereof or other devices thatmay be controlled as part of a slave assembly which may include valves,a pump, a tank, a water heater, a sump pump, a well pump, an ozonegenerator device, a re-pressure system, a gray water collection andreuse system, irrigation system or other device types including devicesthat are included in or separate from liquid conditioners.

In these examples, slave assemblies that are adapted to control liquidmanagement devices via valves included in the slave assembly, may bereferred to herein as slave valve assemblies 1400. Examples of devices1600 that are operated and/or which may have the operative conditionsthereof changed via a valve mechanism in a slave valve assembly, mayinclude a liquid conditioner such as a water softener or filter.

In addition, it should be appreciated that the described slaveassemblies may include and/or may be in operative connection to asensor. Such slave assemblies may be referred to herein as slave sensorassemblies 1420. Such sensor assemblies which communicate sensor data tothe master controller are also referred to herein as transceivers. Thesensors in connection with transceivers may be useful in the managementof liquid in a liquid network or may be useful for other purposesunrelated to liquid management. The master controller 1020 may beoperative to communicate and control a slave sensor assembly to retrievedata acquired by the sensor via communication of wireless messages withthe transceiver associated with the sensor. In an example embodiment,such a sensor may include a salt sensor (for a brine tank), a moisturesensor, a water flow sensor, a video camera, a microphone, a motionsensor, a light sensor, a temperature sensor, an airflow sensor, a powersensor, a voltage sensor, an amperage sensor, a rain gauge, a liquidlevel sensor, a radon sensor, a smoke detector, a carbon monoxidedetector, a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor or anycombination thereof. It should be understood that sensors may beincluded as part of liquid conditioners or other devices that are a partof a slave assembly that is controlled responsive to a slave controllerthat is associated with the particular device. Other types of sensorsmay not be integrated with a device that is controlled by a slavecontroller. Such sensors may be in operative connection with atransceiver which is operative to communicate with the master controllerand provide messages including data that corresponds to one or moreproperties that are sensed through operation of the sensor. It shouldalso be understood that such slave sensor assemblies may includeprocessors, data stores and other capabilities that enable the sensorassembly to store, analyze, selectively report or otherwise providecapabilities related to sensed values in addition to sending messagesthat include data corresponding to sensed parameters.

In addition, some slave assemblies may include slave controllers adaptedto control the supply of liquid to liquid management devices 1320 (orother devices 1340) via a relay included in and/or in operativeconnection with the slave assembly. As used herein, such slaveassemblies may be referred to as slave relay assemblies 1440. Exemplaryrelays may be operative to control the delivery of electricity to orwithdrawal of electricity from devices that operate in response toelectrical power. It should be understood that in some exemplaryembodiments, relays may change condition between supplying and notsupplying power to a device. However, in other arrangements, relays mayoperate to change the nature of the electrical power supplied such aschanging the voltage, amperage or other electrical properties of powerdelivered so as to control an electrical device. Examples of slavedevices 1600 that may be controlled via a relay of a slave relayassembly may include a light source, a sound output device, a pump, aheater, a compressor, a motor, and/or any electrical device that can beoperated or controlled through operation of a relay.

In addition it should be appreciated that some slave devices 1600 may becontrolled via a secondary interface that is included in and/or inoperative connection with the slave assembly. For example, other typesof slave devices 1340 may include an external or remote electronicdevice such as a TV, home entertainment system, security system, aceiling fan, or a home automation system, that are controlled via aninfrared (IR) output, an RF output or other interface communication. Inthis example a slave assembly may include an interface component such asan IR/RF output device and/or an IR/RF remote control (and/or a wiredcontroller), that is operative to output appropriate signals to controlthe slave device responsive to wireless signals from the mastercontroller 1020. In these examples, slave assemblies that are adapted tocontrol external and/or remote devices via an interface included in orin operative connection with a slave assembly, are referred to herein asslave interface assemblies 1460.

In example implementations, a typical liquid management system mayinclude at least one liquid conditioner such as a water softener and/ora water filter. FIG. 14 illustrates a functional block diagram of aliquid management system having a slave assembly 1100 that is configuredas a slave valve assembly 240. In this example, the slave valve assemblyis operative to control a liquid conditioner 210 such as a watersoftener 220 or a water filter 222. Liquid conditioners may bealternatively referred to herein as liquid treatment devices.

As discussed previously, the slave assembly includes a slave controller202 having at least one processor 204, at least one data store 206, andat least one slave wireless communication device 208 that enables theslave controller to wirelessly communicate messages with the mastercontroller. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the exemplary slavevalve assembly 240 further includes at least one motor 212 in operativeconnection with the slave controller. Also, the slave valve assembly 240includes a valve 214 in operative connection with the motor 212 (e.g.,via one or more gears). In this example, the master controller isoperative to individually control one or more of the slave valveassemblies 240 to cause the respective slave controller 202 to cause therespective motor 212 to operate the respective valve element of valve214 of each respective slave valve assembly via communication ofwireless messages with each of the slave valve assemblies. In someexemplary embodiments, the exemplary valve may include a multi-portvalve associated with a liquid treatment tank of a water conditionerlike that described previously and in the incorporated disclosures. Thetank may include filter media, ion exchange media, oxidation media orother types of materials or components as appropriate for the particulartype of water conditioner. In the exemplary arrangement, the slavecontroller is operative to cause one or more valve elements such as apiston to be selectively positioned responsive to the slave controller.In exemplary embodiments, selectively positioning the piston or othervalve element is operative to cause liquid to flow through selectedpassages or passageways associated with the valve. The selected flowthrough the valve is operative to place the valve and the liquidtreatment tank in various operational conditions. For example, inexemplary embodiments, valves may be placed in a service condition inwhich liquid to be treated enters the valve and passes through the tankso as to be treated. The liquid that has been conditioned or otherwisetreated by passing through the tank then passes back through the valveand is delivered to a liquid network connection which causes theconditioned liquid to be delivered to a liquid network for use by liquidconsuming devices, that use or deliver treated liquid such as water.

In some exemplary embodiments, the slave controller can cause the one ormore valve elements to be positioned so as to cause the valve to placethe valve and liquid treatment tank in one or more other conditionsincluding regeneration conditions. A regeneration condition correspondsto a condition in which the liquid treatment function performed by theliquid conditioner is improved. This may include, for example, in thecase of a water softener, regenerating the ion exchange media so as tomore effectively carry out ion exchange. In some exemplary arrangementsa regeneration may include a backflush condition wherein water is passedthrough filter media in a direction opposed from the normal filteringdirection so as to remove contaminants from the filter media. In otherexemplary arrangements, the regeneration condition may correspond todisinfecting media or components of the system. In still other exemplaryarrangements, a regeneration condition may correspond to replenishingoxidizing material in the tank or otherwise positioning the valve in oneor more conditions which may be operative to cause the liquid treatmenttank and treatment materials therein to undergo regeneration asappropriate for the particular liquid conditioning device. In someexemplary arrangements, the valve may be sequentially placed in aplurality of different regeneration conditions so as to enableregeneration of the water conditioner, for example.

In some exemplary arrangements, the one or more valve elements of thevalve may be positioned so as to be placed in a shutoff condition. Sucha shutoff condition may correspond to the valve passageways beingconfigured so that liquid is not passed through the valve to the tankand/or liquid from the tank is not delivered from the valve. Such ashutoff condition may enable turning off the liquid conditioning deviceand/or separating the liquid conditioning device from other componentsof the system.

In still other exemplary arrangements, the valve element may bepositioned responsive to the slave controller so as to place the valvein a bypass condition. In such a bypass condition, untreated liquid ispassed into and out of the valve without passing through the tank so asto condition the liquid. Such a bypass condition may be appropriate insituations for example, where the current water use activity does notrequire conditioning or in other appropriate circumstances.

Of course it should be understood that these conditions of the valvewhich are described in detail previously and in the incorporateddisclosures are exemplary of operative conditions which liquidconditioning devices may have in responsive to operation of a slavecontroller. It should be understood that these operative conditions areexemplary and in other arrangements, other arrangements andconfigurations may be used.

An example embodiment of the slave assembly associated with a liquidconditioner may include at least one liquid flow meter 216 in operativeconnection with the slave controller 202. The meter 216 may be operativeto take flow measurements based at least in part on liquid flowingthrough the at least one liquid treatment device 210, which is alsoreferred to as a liquid conditioner herein. Alternatively in somearrangements the meter may be associated with a separate slavecontroller. The at least one master controller 1020 is operative towirelessly receive messages including data based on the flowmeasurements from the slave controller 202. In addition, the mastercontroller may be configured to wirelessly communicate at least somewireless messages to the slave controller associated with the valveassembly 240 of the at least one liquid treatment device 210 responsiveto the data based on the received liquid flow measurements.

For example, with respect to a liquid treatment device such as a watersoftener, the master controller may operate in accordance with itsprogrammed instructions, data from the meter and stored data todetermine that the liquid conditioner should be placed in a regenerationcondition. Responsive to the determination, the master controllerwirelessly communicates messages that cause the valve assembly of thewater softener to change operational conditions to carry out aregeneration process based on flow measurements from the water meter. Inthis example, the master controller may cause the valve to change theoperational condition to initiate a regeneration process when the numberof gallons of water that have been softened (as measured by the flowmeter operating in conjunction with a clock function in the mastercontroller) since the last regeneration process has exceeded apredetermined threshold. In other exemplary embodiments, the mastercontroller may operate responsive to data received from sensors or otherdevices that communicate via slave controllers and/or transceivers todetermine a need for a water conditioner to undergo a regenerationprocess.

For example in some arrangements, measurements of contaminants in liquidsuch as water may be detected through operation of sensors and the datacommunicated via wireless messages to the master controller. The mastercontroller may operate in accordance with its programming to analyze thedata and compare current data to program or stored data which isindicative of a need for the liquid conditioner to undergo regenerationsteps. Responsive to making the determination, the master controller maythen cause the operational condition of one or more valves to be changedto accomplish such regeneration. Further, it should be understood thatin exemplary arrangements, the master controller may cause the slavecontroller and associated valves or other devices to undergo a series ofoperations in order to accomplish regeneration of the liquidconditioning device. This may include, for example, the liquidconditioning device being subject to operational conditions such asbackflow, purge, rinse, disinfect, introduce sterilization materials,delay, purge or other operational conditions associated with theparticular regeneration process.

FIGS. 30 and 31 represent a logic flow carried out in connection with anexemplary liquid conditioner which in this case is a water softener. Asrepresented in this exemplary logic flow, liquid flow is measuredthrough operation of the meter and messages including data regarding theflow of liquid is communicated by the slave controller associated withthe water softener to the master controller. The master controlleroperates in accordance with its programming to determine if the volumeof liquid that has been conditioned through operation of the watersoftener has reached a level where regeneration of resin exchange mediaused in connection with the water softener is required. This is done inaccordance with the programming of the master controller oralternatively may be carried out in connection with programmingassociated with the slave controller or both.

Responsive to determining that the flow conditions and other conditionshave been met to cause the water softener to undergo a regenerationcycle, the master controller is operative to send messages to the slavecontroller which operate to change the operational condition of thevalve. The slave controller operates responsive to the wireless messagesfrom the master controller to operate the motor and cause the valve tobe changed by moving the one or more valve elements to a positioncorresponding to a regeneration condition. In the exemplary embodiment,the valve associated with the water softener includes an optical encoderor other suitable sensor for determining the position of the valveelement. The slave controller is in operative connection with thepositioning sensor and determines based on signals from the sensor, theposition of the particular valve element. In the exemplary embodimentthe slave controller is operative to send messages to the mastercontroller indicating that the valve element has been moved to aparticular position corresponding to an operational condition of thevalve.

In the exemplary embodiment the messages indicating that the valve haschanged to the desired regeneration condition, causes the mastercontroller to begin operating a timing function. The timing function isselected based on the particular regeneration cycle associated with theparticular regeneration step which the liquid conditioner is to undergo.At the completion of the time associated with the timing function, theprogramming associated with the master controller makes a determinationthat the valve is to be moved to cause the liquid conditioner to be in adifferent regeneration operational condition. In response to making thisdetermination, the master controller sends wireless messages to theslave controller which causes the valve element to change the conditionof the valve and the associated liquid treatment tank. Again a sensorassociated with the valve is operative to sense the position of thevalve element and to cause the slave controller to send messages to themaster controller to indicate that the valve has now changed to thesecond operational condition associated with regeneration of the liquidconditioner.

In the exemplary embodiment three different operational conditions areassociated with the regeneration of the ion exchange media associatedwith the liquid conditioner comprising a water softener. The mastercontroller operates in accordance with its programming to cause theliquid conditioner to be in these regeneration conditions for timedperiods appropriate for each of these three steps. At the completion ofthe regeneration steps, the master controller then operates inaccordance with its programming to send wireless messages which causethe slave controller to change the conditions of the valve and liquidtreatment tank to be in the service condition in which liquid is againconditioned by being passed through the associated liquid treatmenttank. The sensor associated with the valve element also verifies thatthe valve has been returned to the position associated with the servicecondition and the liquid conditioner is properly returned to thetreatment condition. Of course it should be understood that theseparticular steps represented in FIGS. 30 and 31 are exemplary and forother types of liquid conditioners or other devices, other or differentsteps may be used.

Also, as discussed previously, depending on the type of liquid treatmentdevice, the data store 206 of the slave controller may be configured(when manufactured) to include function data 224 representative of theliquid treatment and/or other functions that the liquid treatment deviceis intended to carry out. Thus, a liquid treatment device in the form ofa water softener may have function data stored in the data store 206that indicates that the slave valve assembly controls a water softenertype control valve. Also, a liquid treatment device in the form of awater filter may have function data 224 stored in the data store 206that indicates that the slave valve assembly controls water filter typecontrol valves. Such function data enables the master controller to usethe appropriate programming needed to operate the corresponding type ofliquid treatment device. The function data is also usable in exemplaryembodiments to determine that updated processor executable instructionsthat may be received by the slave controller are appropriate for theparticular slave controller and should be applied thereto. In addition,as previously discussed, slave controllers may also include data that isusable to identify the particular slave controller as one that isauthorized to communicate with the master controller and operate as partof the system. Such identification data may include digital certificatedata or other data that helps to assure that only appropriate devicesare authorized to communicate in the system. Further, such slavecontrollers may be configured to use encryption or other methodologiesto help assure that the system is secure. For example, public keyencryption methodologies including the loading and use of digitalcertificates in the data stores of the controllers or other techniquesmay help secure the messages between the master controller and the slavecontrollers in some exemplary embodiments to help provide enhancedsecurity. Of course it should be understood that these approaches areexemplary and in other arrangements, other approaches may be used.

In an example embodiment, the valve 214 of the slave valve assembly ofthe at least one liquid treatment device includes or corresponds to amulti-port valve such as valve 10 and valve 110 previously discussed.Such a multi-port valve may be placed in a plurality of differentconfigurations or states via operation of the motor 212. Some exemplaryvalves in such different states may cause the liquid water treatmentdevice with which the valve is operatively connected to carry outdifferent functions depending on the type of the liquid treatmentdevice. For example, a water softener type of valve in differentconfigurations/states may place the water softener in differentoperational conditions such as a service condition to soften water froma supply and deliver the treated water to a connection to a waternetwork; a shut off condition to prevent water to flow from either asupply of untreated water or softened water; one or more regenerationconditions to regenerate the water softener, a bypass condition and/orcarry out other actions. In exemplary arrangements, regeneration of thewater softener may be in several different positions/states of the valvein order to carry out the different operations included in aregeneration process (e.g., flushing resin beads in a resin tank with abrine solution, backflushing the resin tank, and/or other actions thatenable the softener to improve its operation softening water). It shouldalso be noted that the master controller may be configured to sendwireless communications to the slave controller which cause the valve tochange the water softener between these different operationalconditions.

Examples of liquid conditioner multi-port control valves that may beadapted for use in exemplary slave valve assemblies are shown in U.S.Application Nos. 61/986,423 and/or 62/119,507 the disclosures of whichare incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Such amulti-port valve has a housing that includes an axially movable pistonand several ports (e.g., an untreated liquid inlet port, a treatedliquid outlet port, a drain port, a port to a resin tank, and ports toand from a brine tank). The motor associated with valve assembly isoperative to move the piston between a plurality of different positionsin the housing; different positions form different liquid pathwaysbetween the ports in the housing. Further, exemplary embodiments includesensors such as optical encoders or other sensors that are operative tosense the position of valve elements or otherwise indicate a currentconfiguration of the valve.

Also, it should be appreciated that other types and configurations ofliquid conditioner valve mechanisms may be adapted to include thefeatures described herein of a slave valve assembly. It should also benoted that an example method may include modifying an existing watersoftener by: removing an existing control valve mechanism (which doesnot interface with the described master controller) from an existingresin tank; and installing one of the described slave valve assemblies(which does interface with the described master controller) to theexisting resin tank. The method may also include installing thedescribed master controller within wireless range of the slave valvecontroller in order to enable the master controller to cause the watersoftener to operate to soften water. The new slave controller and valvepositioning assembly may then be connected with and operate incoordinated relation with the master controller in a manner like thatpreviously described.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example embodiment of the described liquidmanagement system 300, which includes the previously described mastercontroller 1020 and one or more slave assemblies 1100. This exampleembodiment includes a user interface device 302 that is operative towirelessly communicate with the master controller. Here the userinterface device may include at least one processor 304. Processorexecutable instructions 314 may execute in the at least one processor tocause the process or to process data and carry out other actions. Theuser interface device may also include at least one data store 306 (RAM,flash memory, SSD), and at least one wireless communication portal 308(e.g., a Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth radio). The user interface device mayalso include at least one display 310 (e.g., LCD, AMOLED displays) andat least one input device 312 (touch screen, physical keys, track pad,mouse). In an example embodiment, such a user interface device maycorrespond to a tablet type device (e.g., an Apple iPad, Samsung GalaxyTAB, Amazon Fire), a mobile phone, (e.g., an Apple iPhone, Google Pixel,Samsung Galaxy), a notebook computer, a desktop computer, or any otherdevice that may be operative to wirelessly communicate with the mastercontroller. In these examples, the master wireless communication deviceof the master controller may include a module capable of sending andreceiving Near Field Communication (NFC), Wi-Fi and/or Bluetoothcommunications (or multiple communication types) with one or more userinterface devices.

In an example embodiment, the user interface device may include computerexecutable instructions in at least one data store comprising anapplication (such as a water management application) that isspecifically programmed to cause the processor in the user interfacedevice to display information from the master controller and to sendcommands to the master controller. For example, such an application maydisplay status information associated with the water softener (e.g.,number of gallons used per day), any warnings associated with devices(e.g., low salt in a brine tank), and/or any other information that isavailable from the master controller responsive to wireless messagesfrom the master controller.

Also, for example, the described liquid management application may causeoutputs on the display device of one or more selectable options that canbe selected through use of an input device of the user interface inorder to send a wireless command to the master controller to take someaction. Such an action may involve the master controller sending afurther wireless message to a slave assembly, which in turn causes anassociated slave device to carry out a function.

For example, a water softener may be adapted to change from a currentservice mode of operation to another mode of operation (via operation ofthe valve) in which all liquid output from the water softener is eithershut off (prevented) or turned back on (permitted). The slave valveassembly of the water softener may be configured to operate the valve ofthe slave valve assembly to selectively permit and prevent liquid toflow to the water network, responsive to wireless messages received fromthe master controller. The application on the user interface device mayinclude a selectable option to shut off water to a user's house. Whenthis option is selected, the user interface device causes at least onewireless message to be sent to the master controller. The mastercontroller responsive to the at least one message from the userinterface may cause at least one further wireless message to becommunicated from the master controller to the slave valve assembly ofthe water softener, which causes the water softener to change betweenthe modes which permit or prevent water from the water softener to flowto the water network of the house.

FIGS. 32 and 33 show an exemplary interface device 302 which in thisexemplary embodiment comprises a tablet computing device. The exemplaryinterface device is removably positioned in a pocket within the top areaof a cabinet 428. The exemplary cabinet 428 is configured to houseliquid conditioning equipment such as a water softener, a filter, abrine tank or other water conditioning apparatus. The exemplary cabinet428 includes a pocket 432 shown without the user interface device inFIG. 34 which is sized to releasably accept the user interface devicetherein. Further, the exemplary cabinet further includes a pocket 430shown in FIG. 35 that is sized to accept a master controller 1020therein which is represented in FIG. 32. In exemplary arrangements, thecabinet includes electrical connectors or contacts in the respectivepockets that enable charging the batteries in the master controller andthe user interface. In alternative exemplary arrangements, the pocketsmay include inductive coils adjacent thereto or other suitable deviceswhich can be used to contactlessly provide electrical power to the userinterface device and/or the master controller. Of course it should beunderstood that these Figures are exemplary and in other arrangements,other approaches may be used.

Exemplary cabinet 428 further includes a door 434 which is shown in anopen condition in FIG. 35. The door 434 may be used to access theinterior of the cabinet and the liquid conditioning equipment therein.For example, the door may be opened to enable a user to add salt to abrine tank. In other embodiments the door may be used for purposes ofchanging filter media or for other purposes. The exemplary cabinet 428further includes a translucent window 436. In exemplary embodiments, thetranslucent window may be utilized for purposes of allowing a user toview externally illumination type indicators associated with equipmentlocated inside the cabinet. For example in some exemplary arrangements,light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be associated with a circuit boardassociated with valves or other components. The LEDs may providedifferent color or other indications which indicate the particularcondition of the device. For example, in some arrangements, the LEDs mayflash certain colors or in certain patterns to indicate that the valveof the liquid conditioner is in particular conditions. In exemplaryarrangements a user may be able to tell the current condition of theequipment within the cabinet by viewing the appearance of the window436. Further in exemplary arrangements, outputs from the interfacedevice 302 may also correspond to the indications given by the device.Thus a user viewing the interface device may through appropriate inputs,view the particular outputs that correspond to those outputs that arevisible through the window to understand that the equipment within thecabinet is in the condition indicated on the screen of the interfacedevice. Alternatively or in addition, such visible outputs may be usedto indicate malfunctions or needs for remedial actions. Of course theseapproaches are exemplary and in other arrangements, other approaches maybe used.

In the exemplary arrangement, the master controller and the interfacedevice may be placed in operative communication by a user of the liquidconditioner system. This may be done for example when a user decides toupgrade a water conditioner system to incorporate a user interfacedevice. Alternatively such a procedure may be done when a user hasdecided to incorporate an additional interface device into their system.FIG. 29 schematically represents the logic flow associated with anexemplary arrangement where the master controller commences operation inconnection with the user interface device. In this exemplaryarrangement, a user presses a button or other manual input device on themaster controller 1020. In response to this action, the mastercontroller operates in accordance with its programming to store itscurrent settings. The master controller then operates to set up a softaccess point on a predetermined port. The user then operatively connectsthe user interface device which in this case is a tablet, to the WiFiaccess port. This is done through operation of the user interface deviceoperating an application that is configured with the soft access pointutilized by the master controller. The application also includes or isable to resolve the connection settings which enable the user interfacedevice to communicate with the master controller.

Once the user interface device has operatively connected with the mastercontroller, the user is enabled to use the interface device to interactwith the master controller. Through inputs through the touch screen orother user interface on the tablet, the user can change settings, viewdata and send commands to the master controller. Such commands mayinclude shutting off certain devices, placing devices in a bypasscondition or otherwise controlling slave assemblies and the associateddevices that are connected in the wireless system with the mastercontroller. In response to inputs made by a user through the userinterface device, the master controller is operative to receive themessages and then cause wireless command messages to be sent to therespective slave controllers to carry out the commands or otherwisechange the operational conditions thereof.

In the exemplary embodiment once the user has completed the changes tothe devices of the system through inputs of the user interface device,the user is enabled to sign off the user interface application.Responsive to the user indicating that it has ceased making changes tothe system, the messages from the user interface device are operative tocause the master controller to revert to its original WiFi settings.This enables the master controller to be communicated with in itsoriginal WiFi configuration. Alternatively or in addition, exemplaryarrangements may enable the application that operates on the userinterface device and/or the master controller to maintain the operativeconnection with the user interface device as part of the configurationsettings for the master controller. This enables the user interfacedevice to be utilized to control the system without the need to furtherinitialize communications between such devices.

Further in other exemplary arrangements, the master controller may beoperative to communicate with devices other than a dedicated tabletcomputer associated with the water management system. For example insome exemplary arrangements, the user interface device may include aportable user device that operates either in the local area network orconnected networks that can be accessed by the master controller, oralternatively devices that may be connected through the mastercontroller through a wide area network.

In the example described above, such a selectable option to turn offwater to a household network is something that may optimally be donewhen the user is traveling on a vacation or business trip via using auser interface device in the form of a mobile phone (or other portableuser interface device). When the user returns, the user may use the userinterface device comprising the mobile phone, tablet (or other device)to select the selectable option that causes water to be turned back onin the household.

It should also be appreciated that in additional or alternativeembodiments, the master controller may be operative to communicate witha user interface that does not include a programmed applicationdedicated to interfacing with the master controller. Rather, the mastercontroller may include and/or be in operative connection with a webserver that is operative to output web pages that provide the statusinformation and the user selectable options such as those discussedpreviously through a web browser of the user interface device.

It should also be appreciated that regardless of whether a dedicatedapplication or a web services application is used to interface with themaster controller, each of these methods may require user authentication(via user ids, passwords, certificates) and may use encryptedcommunication protocols (e.g., HTTPs). In these examples, the mastercontroller may be operative to connect with (and/or pair) with a userinterface directly in a peer to peer Wi-Fi, NFC or Bluetooth mode.However, it should also be appreciated that the master controller mayalso be configurable to log into an existing Wi-Fi LAN in order toenable wired or wireless devices on the LAN to be operative tocommunicate with the master controller.

In addition, it should be appreciated that the master controller may beoperative to be controlled via user interfaces that are outside the LAN,such as a mobile phone connected to the Internet outside a home orfacility where the master controller is located. In order to provideaccess to the master controller from outside the LAN, a router-firewallassociated with the LAN could be configured to open one or more portsthat facilitate communicate between the user interface device and themaster controller. However, in another embodiment, to avoid requiringfirewall ports to be opened on a LAN in this manner, the mastercontroller may be configured to continuously or periodically opencommunications with a remote server on the Internet. The remote servermay be accessible by user interface devices on the Internet and providea conduit to pass communications between the master controller and theuser interfaces. Of course these approaches are exemplary and in otherembodiments other approaches may be used.

This described exemplary remote server may provide communications formany master controllers in different homes or other buildings. Theremote server may include storage media including computer executableinstructions including a server management application that provides webaccessible user accounts associated with one or more master controllers.One or more master controllers may then be paired to a particular useraccount via the input of a pair code at the master controller and/or theserver management application. The previously described applicationexecuted on the user interface device may then log into the remoteserver with a user account user id and password or other authorizedcredentials in order to be able to access the status information andselectable options that are available with the paired master controllerassociated with the user account.

As discussed previously, example embodiments of the liquid managementsystem may include a liquid meter that is operative to measure an amountof a liquid flow. Such a meter may be integrated into one of the slaveassemblies. For example, a slave valve assembly for a water softener ora water filter may include a meter that is operative to generate flowmeasurements with respect to liquid flowing out of treated water portsof the valve mechanism of the slave valve assembly. In some embodimentsthe meter may measure water volume, current water flow rate or both.

In addition, the master controller may include a clock function or othertiming application that is operative to output clock data usable by themaster controller to determine the current time, date, and/or day of theweek as well as elapsed times. With such clock data, the mastercontroller may be configured to: calculate; store in the data store; andreport liquid volume usage for one or more different time periods to theuser interface device responsive to the data based on the liquid flowmeasurements. Also, with such clock data, the master controller may beconfigured to determine a liquid usage pattern with respect to timeresponsive to the data based on the liquid flow measurements. The mastercontroller may then take one or more actions responsive to adetermination by the master controller that current data based on theliquid flow measurements is higher than the determined liquid usagepattern. For example, the master controller may be operative to comparedata based on current water flow measurements to averages of data storedin the data store that are based on past water flow measurements inorder to determine that there is a deviation between current and pastwater usage that is indicative of a problem. In some arrangements themaster controller may compare current flow rates to pattern flow rate,volume usage over a period of time to volume usage over a similar timein the pattern, or other flow properties.

In some embodiments, the master controller may be configured toautomatically send at least one wireless message to the slave controllerof a water softener (or other slave valve assembly), to control the flowof water (e.g., to control the flow of water either to the at least onewater softener; from the at least one water softener; or a combinationthereof) responsive to a determination by the master controller thatcurrent data based on the water flow measurements is not consistent withthe determined water usage pattern. For example, the master controllermay cause the water valve to move to a shut off condition.

In addition or alternatively, the master controller may be operative tocause a warning message regarding the detected unusual liquid usagepattern, to the previously described user interface device and/or to aportable user device such as a smart phone or via other methods such asby sending an SMS message and/or an e-mail. In such embodiments, atelephone number or e-mail address to send the warning message to theportable user device may be stored in the data store of the mastercontroller.

For example, the master controller may be operative responsive to itsprogramming to determine that current liquid usage level from a liquidconditioner is more than a predetermined threshold percentage (e.g., 50%or other percentage threshold) compared to an average liquid usage overa period of the last month. When such a large rate of flow is detected,the master controller may be operative to wirelessly communicate awarning message to the user interface device and/or to send a message toa portable user device (or via an SMS message or e-mail) that warns theuser of the significant rate of liquid usage.

Such an increase in liquid usage may be normal (such as when a pool isbeing filled or a lawn is being watered, or siding is being washed) andthe user receiving the warning may choose to take no action. However, ifsoftened water is not necessary for the water use activity, such aswatering a lawn, then the user may choose to take some action with theliquid management system via the user interface device or using a user'sportable user device.

For example, a water softener may be adapted to change from a currentmode of operation to another mode of operation (via operation of thevalve mechanism) in which water output from the water softener ischanged between either softened water (e.g., water processed by watersoftener) or non-softened water (e.g., water from a well that has notbeen processed by the water softener). The slave controller of the watersoftener may be configured to cause the valve to selectively switch to abypass operational condition, in which the valve changes from deliveringsoftened water to non-softened water to the water network, responsive towireless messages received from the master controller.

The exemplary application on the user interface device may include aselectable option to switch from delivering softened water tonon-softened water and vice versa, to the water network of a user'shouse. When one or more inputs to the user interface device are providedselecting the option causes wireless messages to be sent to the mastercontroller, which causes a further wireless message to be communicatedfrom the master controller to the slave controller of the watersoftener, which causes the water softener to change between theconditions which provide either softened or non-softened water from thevalve to flow to the water network connection of the house.

In the case of watering a lawn, for example, the user may provide inputscorresponding to the user selectable option of a user interface deviceto cause the water softener to switch to outputting non-softened wellwater to the water network. When the user is done watering the lawn, theuser may provide inputs to the user interface device to select theselectable option that causes the water softener change its operationalcondition to deliver softened water again.

Also, it should be noted that if the user receives a warning via theuser interface device or to a portable user device (such as text messageor e-mail), regarding an unusual increase in water usage, the user maynot know a reason for this increase. In such cases, there may be abroken pipe or a hose may have been left on inadvertently. In suchcircumstances, the user may operate the user interface device of theportable user device as described previously to cause the water to beturned off in the house (via the valve in the water softener) in orderto minimize damage to the house and/or the loss of excessive amounts ofwater.

An example embodiment of the master controller may be operative inaccordance with its programming to compare data based on current liquidflow measurements to data stored in the data store based on past liquidflow measurements in order to make determinations as to appropriatethresholds for liquid usage conditions that may correspond to problemsthat should be reported to a user. For example, large fluctuations ofliquid usage on a weekly or monthly basis may be normal for a householdin which individuals are traveling frequently. In such cases the mastercontroller may analyze such data and may calculate when to trigger awarning regarding excessive liquid usage based on historical peak liquidusage instead of historical average liquid usage.

In addition, an example embodiment of the master controller may beoperative to evaluate water flow data in order to determine the presenceof periodic changes in flow that may be indicative of a toilet with aleaking flap valve. For example, a toilet with a leaky flap valve maycontinually leak water which causes the toilet to refill its tank withwater every couple of hours, day and night of every day. Thus, every fewhours the flow meter of a slave valve assembly may measure the usage of1-3 gallons of water on a consistent periodic basis. The mastercontroller may be operative to detect such periodic water flow usage andcause a wireless message to be sent to the user interface device or aportable user device (such as an SMS or e-mail message) which warns auser of a possible leaky toilet. Data corresponding to other types ofanomalies may be stored in connection with the master controller so thatwhen such conditions occur the probable cause can be identified andreported through a user interface device.

In addition, an example embodiment of the master controller may beconfigurable by a user to select between different methods and/orthreshold percentages for when the master controller makes adetermination to send a warning regarding excessive or undesirable waterusage. The previously described application for the user interfacedevice (or the master controller provided web interface pages) mayinclude a settings screen in which settings regarding alarms, warnings,thresholds and other configuration parameters for the master controllercan be changed via user inputs to the user interface device and/or aportable user device.

In addition, the master controller may be operative to store data in thedata store representative calendar data, such as the dates and times(which may include certain days of the week, months of the year orparticular years) at which certain actions should be taken (such asmodifying a water flow). The master controller may be configured to sendat least one wireless message to the slave controller of a watersoftener (or other slave assembly), to control the flow of water to theat least one water softener from the at least one water softener or acombination thereof, responsive to a current time and the calendar data.For example, the master controller may be operative to store datarepresentative of a date and time in the data store regarding times whenthe master controller is to cause water to be shut off or turned backon. This may be for example programmed time periods when the house orother facility is scheduled to be unoccupied. Further, such date andtimes may specify when the master controller is to cause a switchbetween the output of softened water and non-softened water.

It should also be appreciated that example embodiments of the describedwater management system may include further slave valve assemblies inaddition to the slave valve assemblies associated with a water softeneror a water filter. Such further slave valve assemblies may be operableto control the flow of water for at least one of: to or from, the atleast one water softener device responsive to wireless messages receivedfrom the master controller. In addition, the master controller may beconfigured to wirelessly communicate at least some wireless messages tothe further slave valve assemblies responsive to the data based on thewater flow measurements received from the water softener or other slaveassembly.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 16, a liquid management system 400may include two liquid treatment devices 402, 404 (such as two watersofteners or two water filters or other types of liquid conditioners) inorder to increase the amount of liquid that may be treated in a givenamount of time. Alternatively, such liquid conditioners may be used sothat water can be conditioned by one water conditioner while the otherwater conditioner undergoes regeneration. Each of these liquid treatmentdevices may include respective slave valve assemblies 406, 408, whicheach include slave controllers, motors, valves and other components aspreviously discussed.

In order to manage the operation of the two liquid treatment devices(such as with respect to timing and water routing), this exemplarysystem may include at least one further valve (such as a shuttle valve)that is operative to selectively provide untreated water to therespective valve mechanism of the two liquid treatment devices. Examplesof arrangements of liquid treatment devices and a further valve havingone or more of the features described herein include the manifold andbypass valve assemblies shown in U.S. Application No. 61/986,423 filedApr. 30, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

In this example, the described further valve may be packaged as part ofa further slave assembly 410. Although the valve type of the furthervalve (e.g., a shuttle valve) may be different than the valve types ofthe liquid treatment devices (e.g., multi-port control valves), each ofthese three slave valve assemblies may be individually controlled by themaster controller 1020 through wireless communications. In particular,the further slave valve assembly 410 may be configured to selectivelydirect untreated water from a source 412 to at least one of the firsttreatment device, the second treatment device, or a combination thereofresponsive to wireless messages received from the master controller1020.

For example, by controlling the flow of water via the further slavevalve assembly 410 to selectively each of two water softeners, themaster controller is operative responsive at least in part to functiondata indicating the liquid treatment function of each liquid treatmentdevice to cause one softener to output softened water to the waternetwork while the other carries out a regeneration process. Also, themaster controller may determine when to operate the further slave valveassembly to change the flow to cause the other softener to operate basedat least in part on the water flow measurements received from a meterassociated with the currently operating softener (or other watertreatment devices).

Also, it should be appreciated that the further slave valve assembly 410may be integrated or connected with a manifold 414 that is operative toprovide input and output pipes for each of the liquid treatment devices,a common untreated water source connection 412 and a common output 416(connected to the water network of the building). In addition, with thearrangement shown in FIG. 16, it should be noted that the input andoutput ports 420, 422 on the second slave valve assembly 408 may be inreversed positions relative to the input and output 424, 426 ports onthe first slave valve assembly 406. Thus, the master controller may beoperative to operate each respective liquid treatment device differentlybased on the manner in which the input and output pipes are configured.

In this regard, each of the exemplary three slave valve assemblies 406,408, and 410 may be programmed with function data in order to enable themaster controller to determine how to control the respective valvesproperly. For example, with respect to dual liquid treatment devices inthe form of water softeners, the slave valve assembly 406 of the firstwater softener 402 may include function data representative of a forwardflow softener. Also, the slave valve assembly 408 of the second softener404 may include function data representative of a reverse flow softenervalve. Further, the further slave valve assembly 410 may includefunction data representative of a shuttle type valve.

Exemplary embodiments may be used in conjunction with liquid treatmentvalves which include shut off and bypass capabilities such as is shownin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/590,755 filed May 9, 2017 thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.The electrically controlled components of the exemplary valves showntherein may be operated with suitable circuitry so as to be controlledas a slave valve assembly in some exemplary embodiments. The exemplaryvalves of the incorporated disclosure may avoid the need for separateshut off and bypass valves that work in conjunction with softener,filtration, sterilization or other types of water treatment systems.Such exemplary valves may provide the capabilities for connection tomanifolds that connect a plurality of water treatment devices, and whichenable such devices to be used to deliver treated water at differenttimes or kind concurrently based on system demand.

For control valves that do not include bypass and/or shut offcapabilities like those of the exemplary embodiments described in theincorporated disclosures, a separate valve such as is described in FIGS.36-42 may be used. The exemplary valve 316 includes a valve body 318.The valve body 318 includes a first port 320 and a second port 322. Thevalve body 318 further includes a third port 324 and a fourth port 326.In an exemplary embodiment each of the fluid ports includes threadedconnectors suitable for fluidly connecting the ports of the valve toexternal fluid conduits.

The exemplary valve 316 includes a first rotatable valve stem 328. Valvestem 328 of the exemplary embodiment includes a splined and keyedannular outer surface. Valve 316 further includes a second rotatablevalve stem 330. Second valve stem 330 includes a splined and keyed outersurface like the first valve stem in the exemplary embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, valve stems 328 and 330 may be connectedwith manually engageable handles 332 and 334, respectively. The handlesare usable to rotate the valve stems and the corresponding valveelements that are attached thereto. In the exemplary arrangement handles332 and 334 are removable and may be disengaged from the valve stems andreplaced with an electrical actuator 336. Actuator 336 includes aunitary body 338. In the exemplary arrangement the actuator 336 includesfeatures for engaging the valve stems 328 and 330 so as to enable theelectrical control of the rotational positions thereof. The exemplaryactuator housing 338 may be engaged with each of the valve stems 328 and330 concurrently by moving the actuator housing 338 in the direction ofArrows I in FIG. 37 which is the axial direction of the valve stems. Ofcourse this approach is exemplary and in other embodiments otherapproaches may be used.

As shown in FIGS. 39-41 the first valve stem 328 is in operativeconnection with a first rotatable valve element 340. The second valvestem 330 is in operative connection with a second rotatable valveelement 342. Each of the valve elements extend within the body 318 ofthe valve 360.

The exemplary first valve element 340 is positioned in fluid connectionwith a first passage 344 which fluidly extends between the first port320 and the second port 322 within the valve body. The exemplary secondvalve element 342 is positioned in fluid connection with a secondpassage 346 which fluidly extends between the third port 324 and thefourth port 326 within the valve body. A third passage 348 extends inthe valve body between the first passage 344 and the second passage 346.

In exemplary embodiments the valve 316 may be associated with a controlvalve 350. Control valve 350 may be a valve of the type previouslydiscussed that may be used in conjunction with a water softener system,filtration system, sterilization system or other liquid treatmentsystem. The exemplary embodiment herein will be discussed in connectionwith the control valve 350 being utilized in conjunction with a watersoftener arrangement.

As shown in FIG. 39 with the first valve element 340 shown in theposition indicated (referred to herein as position A), water from firstport 320 is enabled to pass through the first passage 344 and the valveelement to second port 322. In this position of valve 316 with thesecond valve element 342 in the position shown in FIG. 39 (referred toherein as position C), the fourth port 326 is fluidly connected throughthe second valve element 342 to the third port 324. With the first andsecond valve elements in positions A and C respectively as shown in FIG.39, while the first valve element 340 enables the first passage 344 tobe in fluid communication with the third passage 348, second valveelement 342 prevents the third passage from being in fluid connectionwith the second passage 346. As can be appreciated, with the valveelements of the valve 316 in the positions shown in FIG. 39, the controlvalve 350 may operate in a water softener service condition. In suchcondition untreated water from an inlet manifold 352 enters the firstport 320 and passes to the control valve 350 through the second port322. Water that has been treated by flowing through the water treatmentmedia passes out of the control valve 350 and into the fourth port 326of the valve 316. The treated water then passes out of the third port324 and into an outlet manifold 354. Of course it should be understoodthat this arrangement is exemplary.

As shown in FIG. 40 the exemplary valve 316 may have the positions ofthe valve elements therein changed to enable the control valve 350 inthe water softener system connected therewith to operate in aregeneration mode or to be in a standby condition. In this condition ofthe valve, the first valve element 340 is positioned as shown in FIG. 40(referred to herein as position B) in which the first valve elementprevents flow between the first port 320 and the second port 322. Thesecond valve element 342 is positioned as shown in FIG. 40 (referred toherein as position C) in which the third port 324 is fluidly connectedto the fourth port 326. In these positions of the first and second valveelements, flow through the third passage 348 is prevented by the secondvalve element 342.

In this exemplary configuration of the valve 316, untreated water fromthe inlet manifold 352 is prevented from passing through the controlvalve 350 and the softener tank. This means that the control valve 350does not operate to supply treated water to the outlet manifold 354. Inthis configuration of the valve 316, the softener tank in connectionwith control valve 350 may be in a standby mode. Alternatively thecontrol valve 350 may operate as a slave assembly or otherwise inaccordance with received or programmed instructions to regenerate thetreatment media in the tank associated with the control valve. Asrepresented in FIG. 40, the exemplary valve 316 enables the controlvalve 350 to utilize treated water available in the outlet manifold 354for purposes of regenerating the treatment media. This ability toutilize treated water for media regeneration may facilitate regenerationof the media and increase its ability to remove contaminants. Of coursethis approach is exemplary and in other embodiments other approaches maybe used.

FIG. 41 shows valve 316 in yet another alternative configuration inwhich the control valve 350 and the liquid treatment tank operativelyconnected thereto is bypassed. In this configuration the first valveelement 340 is in position B in which the valve element prevents flowthrough the valve body between the first port 320 and the second port322. The second valve element 342 is in a position (referred to asposition D) in which flow between the third port 324 and the fourth port326 is prevented. However in this configuration of the valve, liquid isenabled to flow between the first passage 344 and the second passage 346through the third passage 348.

In this position untreated water from the inlet manifold 352 passesthrough the valve 316 from the first port 322 the third port 324 and outthe outlet manifold 354. Thus the flow through the valve 316 bypassesthe control valve 350 as well as the softener tank fluidly attachedthereto. The valve 316 may be placed in this configuration when treatedwater is not required from the outlet manifold 354. This condition maycorrespond to a situation where treated water is not required for acurrent activity such as the watering of a lawn. Of course thisarrangement is exemplary and in other embodiments other arrangements maybe used.

In the exemplary valve 316 the first valve element 340 in position B iseffective to fluidly separate second port 322 from the first, third andfourth ports of the valve, as well as from the third passage 348. Thesecond valve element 342 in position D is similarly effective to fluidlyseparate fourth port 326 from the first, second and third ports of thevalve as well as from the third passage 348. In some exemplaryarrangements the valve elements may be movable such that the firstelement may be disposed 180° from position B, in which position thefirst port is fluidly separated from all the other ports and the thirdpassage. Likewise in some embodiments the second valve element 342 maybe disposed 180° from position D such that the third port 324 is fluidlyseparated from all the other ports of the valve and the third passage.Also in some exemplary arrangements the first valve element 340 may bepositioned 180° from position A. This may be done in some exemplaryarrangements to isolate the third passage 348 from both of the first andsecond ports. Such capabilities may enable some embodiments to achieveother alternative flow conditions which may be useful in some otherapplications.

FIG. 42 shows an exemplary arrangement in which a plurality of valves316 may be individually connected to respective control valves 350 whichare each in connection with respective water softener tanks 356. Asshown in this exemplary arrangement, the valves 316 may be utilized toselectively connect certain control valves and softener tanks to thecommon inlet manifold 352 and common outlet manifold 354. As previouslydiscussed, in such arrangements each control valve 350 may beselectively controlled as a slave valve assembly by a master controlleror manually, to selectively enable the softener tanks to be selectivelyplaced in a service condition, a regeneration/standby condition, or in abypass condition. Such arrangements may enable multiple water softeneror other water conditioning tanks to be in service concurrently duringhigh flow demand, while only one unit may be used to provide treatedwater during periods of lower demand. Alternatively or in addition, suchunits may be operated to supply treated water during different timeperiods. During the period that the particular softener tank is not inservice it may be controlled by the control valve and/or a mastercontroller to undergo media regeneration. Numerous different approachesmay be taken utilizing the principles described herein.

FIG. 38 is an exploded view of an exemplary actuator 336. The exemplaryhousing 338 includes therein a first electric motor 358 and a secondelectric motor 360. Each motor includes a gear train that drives arespective pinion 362. Each motor is in operative connection with anencoder 364, 366 shown schematically, which enables determining therotational position of the gear train attached to the respective motor.Each motor is held in engagement with the housing through fasteners 368only one of which is shown. The exemplary actuator housing 338 may be ofa clam shell type, the pieces of which are held together by fasteners369.

Housing 338 includes a first bore 370. Bore 370 is a cylindrical borethat is bounded internally within the housing by a first circular topsurface 372. The housing further includes a second cylindrical bore 374.Second bore 374 is bounded by a second circular top surface 376. A firstgear 378 is rotatably movable within the housing 338. First gear 378includes an fixed connection therewith, a first cylindrical hub 380. Inthe exemplary arrangement hub 380 is integrally formed with the gear378. Gear 378 includes a plurality of angularly spaced radially outwardextending fingers 382. Fingers 382 are configured to rotate inengagement with the first circular top surface 376. The exemplaryradially outwardly biased fingers 382 are operative to enable theactuator to be assembled by allowing the hub 380 to be extended into thefirst bore. The fingers 382 are deflected radially inward as the hub ismoved through the bore and then extend outward once the gear has reachedthe desired axial position within the bore. The axially outwardextending fingers through 82 in engagement with the circular top surface372 serve to axially position the hub 380 and gear 378 in the firstbore. The first bore extends in close fitting relation with the hub toenable the first gear to rotate in guided axial relation therewith.

Actuator 336 further includes therein a second gear 384. Second gear 384similar to first gear 378 include a cylindrical hub 386. The hub 386includes in operative connection therewith, a plurality of angularlyspaced radially outwardly biased second fingers 388. Second fingers 388extend outward and move in engagement with the second circular topsurface 376 of the second bore 374. The second fingers 388 serve toaxially position the second hub 386 in the second bore. The positioningof the first and second gears assures engagement with the respectivepinions that are driven by the first and second motors respectively. Ofcourse it should be understood that this arrangement is exemplary and inother embodiments other approaches may be used.

First gear 378 includes a central keyed and splined aperture 390. Firstaperture 390 is configured to engage the first valve stem 328 therein ina particular rotational relationship. Second gear 384 includes a secondcentral aperture 392. Second aperture 392 is configured to accept thesecond valve stem 330 therein. Thus as can be appreciated with the firstand second gears engaged with the first and second valve stemsrespectively, the positions of the first and second valve elementswithin the valve 316 can be selectively independently controlledresponsive to electrical signals that are delivered to the actuator.This enables the valve to be placed in a plurality of flow conditionslike those previously discussed. In some exemplary arrangementselectrical signals to the actuator may be delivered from a mastercontroller which controls the actuator as a slave assembly. In otherarrangements the actuator may be controlled responsive to instructionsproduced by other circuitry that communicate electrical signals with theactuator to enable the valve elements to be placed in desired orprogrammed positions.

The exemplary valve 316 may also be used in conjunction with a number ofother different applications other than water treatment systems such aswater softeners. FIGS. 43 through 45 represent operation of the valve315 in connection with a water system that is used to supply aresidential or commercial establishment. In some exemplary arrangementsthe establishment may receive treated water from a municipal or regionalwater treatment facility that has already rendered the water suitablefor drinking or other purposes. The exemplary arrangement may be used inconjunction with a master controller such as those discussed herein tocontrol the delivery of water to the water use devices within the houseor commercial establishment. In addition the exemplary arrangement maybe used in circumstances where unusual conditions are detected to avoiddamage and water loss.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 43 the second port 322 of thevalve 316 is connected to a water supply line 394. In exemplaryarrangement the supply line 394 may be connected to a regional ormunicipal water supply system that supplies treated water to residentialand commercial facilities. The first port 320 of the valve is fluidlyconnected to a water outlet line 396. The exemplary outlet line 396 maybe a feed line to a water system within a house or commercial building.Outlet line 396 may be connected to a plurality of water use devicessuch as plumbing fixtures, drinking fountains, vending machines, washingmachines, dishwashers, water heaters and other devices that use ordeliver treated water.

In the exemplary configuration shown in FIG. 43, the fourth port 326 isclosed by a suitable plug or other closure member. In this exemplaryarrangement the fourth port 326 is always closed and no water flowstherefrom in any of the conditions of the valve 316. The third port 324is fluidly connected to a drain line 398. Drain line 398 is connected toa wastewater drain or similar connection that receives unused water.

As shown in FIG. 43 the first valve element 340 is in position A. Thesecond valve element 342 is in position C. In this valve configurationliquid is enabled to flow through the valve 316 from the second port322, through the first passage 344, and to the liquid outlet 396 throughthe first port 320. The position of the second valve element 342 inposition C prevents liquid from flowing from the first passage 344through the third passage 348 and into the second passage 346. As aresult no liquid passes from the valve 316 to the drain when the valveelements are in this configuration. In exemplary arrangements theconfiguration of the valve elements in FIG. 43 enables liquid to flowfrom the supply to the outlet line and the water use devices through thevalve during normal system operation.

FIG. 44 shows valve 316 in a shut off condition. The valve 316 may beplaced in this configuration when it is desired to discontinue thesupply of water to the water use devices connected to outlet line 396.In this condition the first valve element 340 is rotated to be inposition B. In this position the valve element is operative to fluidlyseparate the second fluid port 322 from all the other valve ports andthe third passage 348 within the valve. The second valve element 342 inthis configuration is maintained in position C. The second valve elementin this position prevents flow between the first passage 344 and thesecond passage 346 through the third passage 348. As represented by thearrows in FIG. 44, the first valve element 340 in position B and thesecond valve element 346 in position C holds any pressure that may be inthe outlet line 396. Such pressure may be due to the head of liquid inthe lines that go to the water use devices. Such pressure may also arisedue to certain pressurized devices that are connected as water usedevices to the outlet line 396.

In exemplary arrangements, valve 316 may be changed to the configurationshown in FIG. 44 when it is desired to discontinue the supply of waterinto the residential or commercial facility. This might be done throughmanual control of removable handles such as those previously discussed.Alternatively it may be done responsive to electrical signals that aredelivered to actuator 336 that is in connection with the valve elements.The water supply may be shut off if the facility which is supplied withwater through the valve 316 is going to be unoccupied for a substantialperiod of time. Alternatively valve 316 may be placed in thisconfiguration when servicing is to be done to one of the water usedevices connected to the water outlet 396. This may be accomplished bythe manual rotation of the valve elements through the use of the handlesor alternatively through appropriate inputs to an input device from auser which are operative to control the positions of the valve elements.

In other arrangements, valve 316 may be changed from the configurationshown in FIG. 43 to the configuration shown in FIG. 44 automaticallyresponsive to signals received by the actuator 336 from a mastercontroller or other similar control circuitry. For example in someexemplary arrangements the master controller may be in communicationwith a user mobile wireless device to which a user can provide inputsthat are operative to control the configuration of the valve. Inputsprovided by the user to their mobile device indicating that water to theestablishment is to be shut off, may be received by the mastercontroller. The master controller may then operate in accordance withstored executable instructions to cause electrical signals to be sent tothe actuator which are operative to cause the valve elements to move tothe positions shown in FIG. 44.

In other exemplary arrangements, the master controller may operate inaccordance with certain program instructions or signals received fromslave devices to change the configuration of the valve. For example insome exemplary arrangements programmed instructions associated with thecontrol circuitry of the master controller may indicate that the watersupply to the facility is to be turned off during certain time periods.Responsive to clock circuitry in the master controller, the mastercontroller is operative to determine when those time periods have beenreached and to turn off the water supply until the end of the programmedshut off time is reached, at which time the configuration of the valveis changed to again make water available.

In other exemplary arrangements the master controller or other controlcircuitry may be operative to determine possible adverse conditions inwhich the supply to the water use devices should be turned off. Forexample the master controller may include data stored in a data storeregarding water flow through the valve as a function of time. The mastercontroller or other circuitry to be operative to monitor the currentflow as detected by a flow meter positioned in connection with the watersupply line 394 or the water outlet line 396. The master controller maybe operative to determine a significant deviation indicating high wateruse during a period when such high water use has not previouslyoccurred. This may be for example in the middle of the night when no oneis expected to be at the facility. Responsive to the control logic inthe master controller detecting an abnormal water use condition,exemplary embodiments may be operative to change the condition of thevalve 316 to shut off the water flow therethrough. Some exemplaryarrangements may also operate to have the master controller send one ormore signals indicative of the condition detected to a user interface ofa mobile device or other user terminal. Such signals may advise the userof the abnormal condition that has been detected. In some arrangementsif the master controller has shut off the flow of water to the facility,the user may provide inputs to the user operable input device of theuser terminal to have the water flow reinstated in the event that theuser wishes to do so. Alternatively in other arrangements, or in othercircumstances, the master controller or other control circuitry upondetecting a suspect condition may send signals to notify the user of thesuspect condition. In such circumstances the master controller may beprogrammed not to take action to shut off the water flow to the facilityuntil receiving signals indicative that the user wishes to do so. Ofcourse these approaches are exemplary in other embodiments otherapproaches may be used.

As shown in FIG. 45 some exemplary valve arrangements may also providefor the relief of any pressure that may be present in the outlet line396 after the first valve element has been changed to position B to shutoff the water flow into the facility. In this configuration the secondvalve element 342 is changed to position D. In this configuration waterthat is available at the first port 320 from the water use devices inthe facility is enabled to pass through the valve to the first, secondand third passages therein to the drain line 398. This exemplary valveconfiguration may be utilized when conditions are detected which suggestthat damage may be occurring due to leakage or other conditions where itis desirable to relieve any pressure that may exist at the water usedevices.

For example in some exemplary arrangements the master controller may bein operative connection with slave assemblies that detect the presenceof water or moisture in areas where water or moisture should not bepresent. This may be for example in a basement area near a sump pump. Itmay alternatively or additionally be near a hot water tank, a washingmachine, a dehumidifier, and air conditioning unit or other device whichmay cause water to be present in the area of the detector duringconditions associated with a malfunction. Such detectors upon detectingthe presence of water or moisture in an area where it should not bepresent, operate in accordance with their circuitry to send one or moresignals to the master controller or other control circuitry. In suchcircumstances the master controller may operate in accordance with itsprogramming to determine the nature of the potential undesirablecondition. This may be for example, a broken pipe or other water leak.In such circumstances the master controller may operate in accordancewith its programming to change the condition of the first valve element340 of the valve 316 from position A to position B to shut off thefurther flow of water into the facility. In addition due to the natureof the condition detected, namely a water leak, the master controllermay operate in accordance with its programming to try to minimize theamount of water that can pass through the leak and cause damage to thefacility. Responsive to such a determination the master controller theychange the configuration of the valve to that shown in FIG. 45. In thisexemplary configuration the head of water maintained in the waterdistribution system is relieved through the valve to the drain 398. Thisreduces the amount of water available that can potentially pass outwardthrough the leak. In such arrangements the master controller or othercontrol circuitry may also operate to send one or more signals to a userinterface of a mobile device or other user terminal to advise a user ofthe detected condition. As in the previously discussed situation themaster controller may operate in accordance with its programming tonotify the user after or concurrently with changing the condition of thevalve to shut off the water and attempt to minimize the potentialdamage. Alternatively the master controller may send a notification tothe user and take action only after receiving the user instruction tochange the condition of the valve.

As can be appreciated, exemplary master controllers or other controlcircuitry may be programmed to detect a plurality of differentconditions which may correspond circumstances where the condition of thecontrol valve 316 may need to be changed. Further in other exemplaryembodiments water delivery systems may include a plurality of disposedvalves such as valves 316 which control water flow in various regions orareas of the facility. A master controller or a plurality of linkedcontrollers may operate in accordance with their programming to detectpotential adverse conditions or other conditions which indicate that thecondition of the valve should be changed, and make the changesaccordingly in accordance with programmed instructions associated withthe control circuitry and/or in accordance with commands receivedremotely from a user. Of course these configurations are exemplary andin other embodiments other approaches may be used.

As discussed previously, example embodiments of the liquid managementsystem may include sensors that are operative to connect and report datato the master controller. Such sensors may be configured as part ofslave assemblies. Sensors may also be connected with transceivers thatcommunicate sensor data to the master controller (referred toalternatively herein as a slave sensor assembly 1420 as illustrated inFIG. 13.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a liquid management system 500 that includesa slave sensor assembly 540 having a salt sensor 510 for use in a brinetank 512. Such a brine tank may be operative to supply a brine solutionto a water softener 220 during the regeneration phase of the softener.Example arrangements of a brine sensor in a brine tank that is connectedto a water softener that may have one or more of the features describedherein are shown in U.S. Application No. 61/986,423 filed Apr. 30, 2014which is incorporated hereby by reference in its entirety.

As shown in FIG. 17, the described slave sensor assembly 540 may includeat least one slave controller 502 and may be in operative connectionwith a salt sensor that is operative to determine data based on a levelof salt in the brine tank. As discussed previously, the slave controllermay include at least one processor 504, a data store 506, and a slavewireless communication device 508. The slave wireless communicationdevice 508 enables the slave controller 502 of the slave sensor assemblyto wirelessly communicate messages with the master controller. Themaster controller is thus operative to wirelessly receive messages fromthe slave controller that include data based on the level of salt in thebrine tank 512. Responsive to the messages from slave sensor assembly,the master controller may be operative to send wireless communicationsto the user interface device 302 that cause the display device of theuser interface device to output visual data based on the level of saltin the brine tank.

In an example embodiment, the salt sensor may be configured to make abinary determination regarding the salt level, such as whether the levelof salt is or is not low. The master controller may be configured toquery the slave sensor assembly in a manner that causes the slave sensorassembly to return data regarding whether the level of salt is low or isnot low. One or more visual outputs on the display screen of the userinterface device 302 may similarly reflect whether the level of salt inthe brine tank is low or is not low. When the level of salt is low, theuse interface device 302 may be configured to display a warning messagethat encourages a user to add more salt to the brine tank.

However, it should also be appreciated that in alternative embodiments,the salt sensor 510 may be operative to detect more detailed informationsuch as data that indicates a relative level of how much salt iscurrently remaining in the brine tank (e.g., a full level of salt, amedium level of salt, and a low level of salt). In this alternativeembodiment, the slave sensor assembly may be operative to send messagesto the master controller that include data based on the detected amountof salt, and the user interface may be operative to output indicia on adisplay that is indicative of several different levels of the amount ofsalt in the brine tank.

Also, in another embodiment, the master controller may be operative todetermine an estimate of the amount of salt that remains in the brinetank responsive to the number of regeneration cycles that have beencarried out by the water softener. Further, a water managementapplication operating in the user interface device may enable a use toinput to the user interface device data indicative of the amount of saltthat is added each time the brine tank is filled with additional salt.The master controller may be operative to use this data to moreaccurately determine the amount of salt that is used to carry outregeneration processes before the salt sensor indicates that the levelof salt is low. With this additional data, the master controller may beoperative to provide a user interface with a relatively more accurateindication regarding the remaining level of salt in a brine tank. Also,the master controller may be operative to send communications to thewireless user interface device and/or to a portable user device (such asmessages via SMS and/or email) to warn a user when salt may need to beadded before the salt sensor indicates that the level of salt in thebrine tank is low. The amount of time such a warning is provided beforethe level of salt is indicated to be low by the salt sensor may be aparameter that is configurable by the user interface device for themaster controller.

However, it should be understood that while in some embodiments thebrine sensor may operate in connection with a separate slave assemblythat communicates with the master controller, in other embodiments thebrine sensor may be integrated with the slave assembly associated withthe water softener. In such embodiments, the slave controller associatedwith the motor, valve, water meter and other components of the watersoftener may also be in operative connection with the brine sensor. Insuch embodiments, the slave controller associated with the watersoftener is operative to communicate messages including data forresponding to data sensed through operation of the brine sensor inmessages communicated from the slave controller of the water softener tothe master controller. Of course these approaches are exemplary and itshould be understood that various embodiments may include slavecontrollers that are associated with numerous different sensors andcontrol devices while in other arrangements sensors may be combined withtransceivers to provide sensing communications that may be usable by themaster controller in connection with carrying out different activities.

In another example as illustrated in FIG. 17, a further slave sensorassembly 542 may include or be in operative connection with a sensor inthe form of a moisture sensor 516. The master controller may beoperative responsive to messages from the transceiver associated withthe moisture sensor (which messages indicate the presence of moisture)to cause the user interface device 302 to display a warning messageindicating that water has been detected in a basement or other locationbeing monitored by the moisture sensor. In some embodiments, the mastercontroller may be operative to automatically cause programmed correctiveactions to be taken in response to such a message, such as causing theslave valve assembly 240 associated with the water softener 220 to shutoff water to the water network of the house.

As discussed previously, each exemplary slave sensor assembly mayinclude a data store 506 that includes function data 514 that indicatesthe type of sensor that the slave sensor assembly is associated with andother associated data. In these examples of slave sensor assemblies, thefunction data may, for example, be indicative of a salt sensor, amoisture sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, and electrical powersensor or other data that describes the type of sensor that isassociated with the slave sensor assembly.

It should also be appreciated that the master controller may beoperative to indicate status information regarding sensors and otherdevices through output devices 218 other than the described userinterface device 302. For example, other types of output devices mayinclude a sound output device (e.g., buzzer, beeper) and/or a lightdisplay device (e.g., LED warning lights). Such output devices may be inwired connection with the master controller and/or a slave assembly, andthe master controller may be operative to cause the output device tooutput a sound or light responsive to the status data associated withthe master controller and/or one or more slave assemblies. In addition,it should be appreciated that the master controller may be operative towirelessly interface with an output device 218 which may not include aslave controller of the dedicated system type as described herein. Forexample, the output device may correspond to Wi-Fi or a Bluetoothcontrollable LED light bulb. Such a light bulb may be operative to turnon, turn off, and/or change colors responsive to Wi-Fi or Bluetoothsignals. In an example embodiment, the master controller may beconfigurable in order to access the LED light bulb and cause the LEDlight bulb to turn on, turn off, and/or change colors responsive towireless Wi-Fi or Bluetooth messages from the master controller. As insome exemplary systems there may be more than one LED light bulb that isavailable to be controlled in this manner, the master controller may becapable of being configured via a pairing process or other configurationprocess to selectively control one or more of the LED light bulbs.

For example, the master controller may be configurable to cause such anLED light bulb (or other wireless output device) to flash on/off, changeto a particular color (e.g., yellow or red) based on status dataindicative of a slave assembly indicating a problem or a need formaintenance. For example, when the slave sensor assembly associated witha salt sensor outputs data indicative of a low salt level (or the mastercontroller determines via calculations in view of regeneration cyclesthat salt is low or close to being low), the master controller may beconfigured to wirelessly cause a particular LED light bulb in a kitchen(or other high traffic area) to turn from outputting white light tooutputting a different color such as yellow or red, which notifiessomeone in the house that it is time to add more salt to the brine tank.Also, when the slave sensor assembly associated with a salt sensordetects that the salt level is no longer low (or a user has provided anindication to the user interface that salt has been added to the brinetank), the master controller may be configured to wirelessly cause thesame LED light bulb to return to its normal operation (i.e., outputtingwhite light).

As discussed previously, example embodiments of the liquid managementsystem may include relays that are operative to control electrical powerto one or more devices. Such relays may be configured as part of slaveassemblies (sometimes referred to herein as a slave relay assembly 1420as illustrated in FIG. 13.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a liquid management system 600 that includesa slave relay assembly 640 having a relay 610 for use with controllingelectrical power to an electric device such as a pump 612. Such a pumpmay correspond to a water pump such as a well pump, sump pump,irrigation pump or any other type of pump that moves water into and/orout of a reservoir 616.

As shown in FIG. 18, the described slave relay assembly 640 may includeat least one slave controller 602, at least one processor 604, a datastore 606 with function data 614, and a slave wireless communicationdevice 608. The slave wireless communication device 608 enables theslave controller 602 of the slave relay assembly to wirelesslycommunicate messages with the master controller. The master controlleris thus operative to wirelessly send messages to the slave relayassembly 640 that cause the slave controller 602 to control the relay610 to change its electrical condition in supplying power to anelectrical device. In this example the slave controller operates to turnon and turn off the pump 612.

In an example embodiment, the master controller may be configured tocontrol the pump responsive to messages received from slave sensorassemblies 642 that provides data that triggers when to turn on or offthe pump. For example, a sump may include a slave sensor assembly 642 inoperative connection with a sensor 644 in connection with a water levelfloat mechanism. The float may detect a water level in the reservoirassociated with the sump pump.

The slave sensor assembly 642 may send messages to the master controller1020 representative of when the water level is at a sufficient height torequire water to be pumped out of the reservoir 616. The mastercontroller 1020 may be configured to cause the slave relay assembly 640associated with the sump pump 612 to turn on the sump pump when messagesindicating such a high water level are received from the slave sensorassembly associated with the float of the sump pump. Correspondingly,when the slave sensor assembly 642 associated with the float of the sumppump sends messages to the master controller 1020 indicating that thewater level has been sufficiently lowered in the reservoir 616, themaster controller may be operative to cause the slave relay assemblyassociated with the sump pump to turn off.

By placing a sump pump under the control of the described mastercontroller, the master controller may be operative to detect problemsassociated with the sump pump and/or float sensor and report suchproblems to a user (via the user interface device, or a portable userdevice via SMS message and/or e-mail). An example of a problem that maybe detected by the master controller may be a stuck float sensor thatcontinuously outputs an indication of a high water level (even when thewater level is low). The example master controller may operate based onits programming and/or other sensors such as moisture sensors todetermine that the float sensor may be improperly indicating a highlevel when the float level fails to report a low water level after apredetermined amount of time of pump operation.

In another example, a well water pump may need to be controlled based ona pressure sensor of a water holding tank. In this example, the slavesensor assembly 642 may be in operative connection with a sensor such asthe pressure sensor 644 located in a reservoir 616 such as a holdingtank. The slave sensor assembly 642 operates to communicate messageswith the master controller 1020 that indicate when the pressure in theholding tank has fallen below a predetermined threshold. Responsive tosuch messages the master controller 1020 may be operative to sendmessages to a slave relay assembly 640 associated with the well pump toturn on in order to fill the tank with additional water.Correspondingly, when the slave sensor assembly 642 associated with thepressure sensor sends messages to the master controller 1020 indicatingthat the pressure level has risen above a predetermined threshold, themaster controller may be operative to cause the slave relay assemblyassociated with the well pump to turn off.

By placing a well pump under the control of the described mastercontroller, the master controller may be operative to detect problemsassociated with the well pump and/or pressure sensor and report suchproblems to a use (via the user interface device, or portable userdevice or via SMS message and/or e-mail). An example of a problem thatmay be detected by the programming associated with an exemplary mastercontroller may be a broken well pump. The example master controller maydetermine that the well pump is broken responsive at least in part tothe pressure sensor failing to show an increase in pressure after thewell pump has been commanded by the master controller to operate for apredetermined amount of time.

As discussed previously, each exemplary slave relay assembly may includea slave controller with a data store 506 that includes function data 514that indicates the type of relay and/or device that the slave relayassembly is associated with. In these examples, the function data may,for example, be indicative of a sump pump, well pump, or other type ofpump. Similarly, the slave sensor assembly associated with the reservoirthat is filled or emptied by operating the pump, may include functiondata indicative that the sensor is a sump float sensor, a water storagetank pressure sensor or other data that describes the type of sensorthat is associated with the slave sensor assembly.

FIG. 19 illustrates another configuration of a liquid management system700 that includes a slave relay assembly 740. In this example the slaverelay assembly is in operative connection with an electrical devicewhich a user may wish to automatically turn on or off in someconditions, or a user may wish to remotely be able to turn on and off.For example, the relay assembly may be in operative connection with arelay 710 that is configured to control electrical power to an electricwater heater 712. Also, as with other exemplary slave assemblies, theslave relay assembly 740 may include at least one slave controller 702,at least one processor 704, a data store 706 which includes functiondata 714 (indicative of a water heater relay and/or other program oroperation data), and a slave wireless communication device 708. In thisexample, the processor executable instructions of the user interfacedevice may include a water management application 714. The computerexecutable instructions of the application cause the at least oneprocessor of the user interface device, to cause the user interfacedevice to send wireless communications to the master controller 1020.The master controller may be responsive to the messages from the userinterface device to send wireless messages to the slave relay assembly702 that cause a relay 710 in operative connection with the slave relayassembly to either turn electrical power on or off to the water heater.Thus, the user interface device is operative to remotely turn the waterheater off and on.

In alternative exemplary arrangements, the master controller may beoperative to cause the slave controller associated with the relaydelivering power to the water heater to cease delivering such power incircumstances where continued operation of the water heater may beharmful. For example, in some exemplary arrangements, the loss of waterflow due to a broken pipe, pump failure or other conditions may cause aninability to deliver water to the water heater. In such circumstances,the master controller may operate responsive to messages sent bytransceivers associated with sensors, messages sent by slave assembliesor other appropriate sensing devices to make a determination based onits programming that conditions exist that make it desirable to removeelectrical power from the water heater. In these circumstances themaster controller will operate in accordance with its programming tocommunicate messages with the slave controller associated with the relayfor the water heater to cause electrical power to be withdrawn from thewater heater.

Further, in other exemplary arrangements, the master controller mayoperate to automatically withdraw power from a water heater or otherelectrical power consuming devices responsive to other conditions. Forexample, electrical power sensors associated with transceivers may beoperative to detect a brownout condition occurring at the house or otherbuilding where the water heater or other electrical device is located.In order to reduce possible problems and/or to reduce electricalconsumption during such conditions, the master controller may operateresponsive to the messages communicated with the transceiver associatedwith the brownout sensor to cause electrical power to be withdrawn fromcertain electrical devices. This is accomplished by the mastercontroller causing wireless messages to be sent to the slave controllersassociated with the electrical devices, causing the relays todiscontinue delivering electrical power thereto. Further as can beappreciated, exemplary master controllers may operate responsive tomessages from the brownout sensor indicating that power has been fullyrestored to operate to send wireless messages to the slave assembliesassociated with the relays to cause the relays to restore power to thewater heater or other electrical devices.

In still other exemplary arrangements, messages indicative of brownoutconditions may be operative to cause the master controller tocommunicate wireless messages to the user interface device and/or theportable user device such as a smart phone associated with a user toindicate the occurrence of the condition. Outputs from such devicesoperated by a user may inform the user of the condition. The user maythen be given the option to provide inputs to the user interface of thedevice such that the user can then cause the master controller towithdraw electrical power therefrom. It should be appreciated that slaverelay assemblies may be configured to operate in connection withnumerous types of electrical devices in a building in order to provideremote control of the devices via the same master controller thatmanages water treatment devices.

It should be appreciated that the example master controller and theslave assemblies described herein may be powered by direct current (DC)electricity from one or more power sources. For example, the mastercontroller and/or the slave assemblies may be powered from one or moretransformers which derive power from household current such as by beingconnected to a household electrical outlet and/or wired into anelectrical system of a building. In addition, in further exampleembodiments, the master controller may be operative to provide DCelectricity to one or more slave assemblies.

FIG. 20 illustrates schematically an example liquid management system800 in which the master controller 1020 is integrated into a housing 802that includes a plurality of power terminals 806. The master controllermay include an electrical system that is operative to provide DCelectrical power provided from a transformer 804 to both the mastercontroller 1020 and the plurality of power terminals 806.

In this described embodiment, one or more of the previously describedslave assemblies, such as a slave valve assembly 1400, a slave sensorassembly 1420 and a slave relay assembly 1440 may have their electricalpower requirements provided by electrical wires 808 connected to thepower terminals 806 of the housing 802 of the master controller.However, as described previously, even though such slave assemblies maybe wired to the master controller to receive electrical power, exampleembodiments of the slave assemblies are configured to communicatewirelessly through wireless messages 810 with the master controller.Also, it should be noted that some slave assemblies may not besufficiently near the master controller to readily wire the slaveassembly to the power terminals of the master controller. In such cases,a secondary transformer may be plugged into and/or wired into theelectrical system of the building in order to provide power to suchslave assemblies.

As previously discussed, in some exemplary arrangements a cabinet suchas the cabinet 428 may include power terminals which may provide powerto or from numerous different devices therein. For example, powerterminals included on the cabinet may be used to supply power to or fromthe master controller of the user interface device and the slaveassembly and the components thereof associated with the cabinet. Thusfor example in some exemplary arrangements, the cabinet may include oneor more transformers which provide electrical power at the desiredvoltage and amperage to the power terminals that are operative toconnect to the different devices which are included in or may beconnected to the cabinet. Alternatively such as is represented in FIG.20, the master controller or another device may be in operativeconnection with a transformer which is then used to provide power to thepower terminals which are in operative connection with the otherelectrical devices. Of course it should be understood that theseapproaches are exemplary and in other embodiments, other approaches maybe used.

With reference now to FIGS. 21-23, various example methodologies areillustrated and described. While the methodologies are described asbeing a series of acts that are performed in a sequence, it is to beunderstood that the methodologies are not limited by the order of thesequence. For instance, some acts may occur in a different order thanwhat is described herein. In addition, an act may occur concurrentlywith another act. Furthermore, in some instances, not all acts may berequired to implement a methodology described herein.

Moreover, the exemplary acts described herein may be caused to becarried out responsive to computer-executable instructions by one ormore processors and/or stored on a computer-readable medium or media(e.g., CD, DVD, hard drive, solid-state drive, flash memory, or otherstorage device). The computer-executable instructions may include aroutine, a sub-routine, programs, a thread of execution, and/or thelike. Still further, results of acts of the methodologies may be storedin a computer-readable medium, displayed on a display device, and/orotherwise used.

Referring now to FIG. 21, an exemplary logic flow methodology 900 thatfacilitates managing liquid is illustrated. The methodology 900 beginsat step 902, and at 904 includes a step of receiving at least one firstwireless message with a master controller from a slave assembly includedas part of the liquid treatment device (i.e. water conditioner).

As discussed previously, the master controller may include a masterwireless communication device that enables the master controller towirelessly communicate messages with a plurality of slave assembliesincluding the slave valve assembly in step 904. Also, each slaveassembly includes a slave controller and the slave controller includes aslave wireless communication device that enables the slave controller towirelessly communicate message with the master controller.

In this example, the liquid treatment device includes a slave assemblyin the form of a slave valve assembly that includes a slave controller,a motor and a valve. The exemplary slave assembly of the liquidtreatment device further includes a meter that is operative to generateliquid flow measurements based at least in part on liquid flow throughthe valve mechanism of the slave valve assembly of the at least oneliquid treatment device. In step 904, the at least one first wirelessmessage includes data based at least in part on at least one liquid flowmeasurement.

In this example methodology, in step 906, responsive to the data basedat least in part on the at least one liquid flow measurement, the mastercontroller sends at least one second wireless message to the slavecontroller that causes the motor to position the valve to control theoperation of the liquid treatment device. Also, at step 908, themethodology may end. In an example embodiment, the slave valve assemblyin step 906 may be the slave assembly in step 904 and the slave valveassembly may include the meter. Thus, in step 904, the at least onefirst wireless message including the data based at least in part on theat least one liquid flow measurement is communicated by the slavecontroller of the slave valve assembly of the liquid treatment device.However, it should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, themeter may be included in a slave assembly that is different than theslave valve assembly of the liquid treatment device and that isoperative to independently wirelessly communicate with the mastercontroller.

Also, as discussed previously, the valve of the slave valve assembly ofthe at least one liquid treatment device in step 906 may correspond to amulti-port valve having a housing that includes more than two ports anda movable piston. The motor may operate to move the piston between aplurality of different positions in the housing, which differentpositions form different liquid pathways between the ports in thehousing. Such slave valve assemblies, for example, may be used withliquid treatment devices such as a water softener or a water filter.

As discussed previously, the exemplary master controller may beoperative to wirelessly communicate with at least one user interfacedevice. Such a user interface may include a device that communicateswith the master controller in the LAN. Alternatively the user interfacedevice may include a portable user device that communicates with themaster controller via a wide area network. In addition, the liquidtreatment device may be configured to supply water to a water network.Thus, the methodology 900 may further include the control logicmethodology 1001 illustrated in FIG. 22. The methodology 1001 begins atstep 1002, and at 1004 includes a step of receiving with the mastercontroller at least one third wireless message from a user interfacedevice. The methodology at step 1006 includes the master controllersending at least one fourth wireless message to the slave valve assemblyresponsive to the at least one third wireless message received in 1004from the user interface device. In addition, the methodology may includea step 1008 in which the slave valve assembly of the liquid treatmentdevice causes the motor to move the piston of the valve of the slavevalve assembly to move between a first position that permits water toflow to the water network and a second position that prevents water fromflowing to the water network, responsive to the at least one fourthwireless message. At step 1010 the exemplary methodology may end.

Also discussed previously, the described slave assemblies, including theslave valve assemblies, may include a slave controller including datastore comprising data indicating a function that the slave assembly isintended to carry out. Thus, the methodology 900 may further include thecontrol logic methodology 1101 illustrated in FIG. 23. The methodology1101 begins at step 1102, and at 1104 includes a step of the slaveassembly sending a wireless message to a master controller that includesdata representative of data indicating the function of the slaveassembly. The master controller may then send at least somecommunications to the slave assembly based at least in part on the datarepresentative of the data indicating the function of the slaveassembly.

For example, a slave valve assembly may include a data store comprisingdata indicating that a function of the slave valve assembly correspondsto a control valve for a liquid treatment device. The methodologies 900and 1001 in FIGS. 21 and 22 may then include the step 1104 prior to step904 in which the slave valve assembly sends a fifth wireless message tothe master controller that includes data representative of the dataindicating that the function of the slave valve assembly corresponds toa control valve for a liquid treatment device. The master controller maythen send the at least one second communication in step 906 and the atleast one fourth communication in step 1006 based at least in part onthe data representative of the data indicating that the function of theslave valve assembly corresponds to a control valve for a liquidtreatment device.

Further in exemplary embodiments, a data store associated with a slavecontroller of a slave assembly may also include data which is usable toauthenticate the devices authorized to communicate with the mastercontroller in a network. Such data may include identifying data which iscapable of identifying the device and authenticating that it is anappropriate device to include in the network. Alternatively or inaddition, the data included in the data store associated with the slavecontroller may include data which is usable to encrypt communicationsbetween the master controller and the slave controller. This mayinclude, for example, authenticating data or computer executableinstructions which are operative to produce identifying data which canthen be used in connection with the communications to provide secure andauthenticated communications between the master controller and the slaveassemblies.

In further exemplary embodiments, data included in data stores of theslave assemblies may include operational instructions which are usableby the slave controller to control the devices to which the slavecontroller is connected. For example the instructions included inconnection with the slave controller may include the specific steps, orfunctions that different devices controlled by the slave controller needto perform in order to carry out a particular operation. This enablesthe master controller to communicate messages which indicate that aparticular function should be carried out by the slave assembly. Theslave assembly may then utilize the instructions included in its datastore to cause the devices to perform the specific actions and stepsthat are needed to carry out that particular function in connection withthe particular devices, sensors, etc. that the slave controller isconfigured to work with. This approach may avoid the need for the mastercontroller to communicate messages that operate to control each specificdevice function associated with devices that are connected to the slavecontroller. Further, in exemplary arrangements such an approach mayenable the master controller to communicate common messages t slavecontrollers associated with different devices that nonetheless performthe same function. This may be for example different models of waterconditioners which perform the same water conditioning function throughoperation of different types of devices. As a result, the mastercontroller may communicate the same messages with each of the differentslave controllers of the different models to cause common functions tobe performed. However, the slave controllers utilizing their programmingin the respective data stores may cause operation of different kinds ofdevices in different ways and operate in conjunction with differentsensors so as to cause the function to be performed by the differentmodel devices. In some exemplary devices, this may simplify the messagestructure and programming associated with the master controller. Ofcourse it should be understood that these approaches are exemplary andin other arrangements, other approaches may be used.

FIGS. 24-27 illustrate an example of a valve assembly usable inconnection with a liquid conditioner such as a water softener. Theexemplary embodiment may include a valve mechanism adapted from thecontrol valve mechanism shown in U.S. Application No. 61/986,423, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIG. 24 shows an example exterior perspective view of an exemplary slavevalve assembly 1202 for a water softener with a cover 1204 installed ona housing 1206. The slave valve assembly 1202 may include a base portion1208 that is adapted to mount to a top opening of a resin tank such aspreviously discussed. However, it should be appreciated that alternativeembodiments of the slave valve assembly may be adapted to work withother water conditioner arrangements including in arrangements with aslave valve assembly positioned in other locations (such as adjacent toa tank as illustrated in U.S. Application No. 61/986,423, below a tankor other location.

FIG. 25 shows an example internal view of the slave valve assembly 1202with the cover removed. As illustrated in FIG. 25, the slave valveassembly may include a circuit board 1302 mounted to the housing 1206,which circuit board includes circuitry which includes the previouslydescribed slave controller 202 shown in FIG. 14. This exemplary circuitboard 1302 includes circuits operative to selectively provide power to amotor 1304 via wires 1305. The motor is releasably mounted to thehousing 1206. The motor is operative to rotate a plurality of gears 1306which control the configuration of a valve mechanism 1308. The conditionof the valve is controlled by selectively axially moving a valve elementto selected positions to cause selected liquid flow conditions.

In addition, as illustrated in a side view in FIG. 26, the exemplaryvalve mechanism 1308 includes an encoder 1402 that monitors the positionof the gears and the position of the valve element such as a piston thatestablishes the operational condition of the valve. In this example, theencoder may be directly mounted to the circuit board 1302.

In this example embodiment, the valve mechanism may include a wateroutlet port 1322 (for softened water) and a water inlet port 1324 (forreceiving untreated water). The valve mechanism may also include a watermeter 1326 positioned to measure water flow through the water outlet (orother port in the valve mechanism). The slave controller is operative toreceive information regarding the measured water flow from the watermeter via wires 1328 connected to the circuit board 1302.

Also, as shown in FIG. 25, the circuit board is operative to receivepower via electrical wires 1330 that may be operatively connected to aDC electrical supply such as a transformer. Also, the slave valveassembly 1202 may be adapted to receive a battery 1318 in aconfiguration that clips under the circuit board. Such a battery 1318may supply electrical power to the circuit board when the power has beenlost from the electrical wires 1330.

In an example embodiment, when the circuit board switches to usingbattery power, the slave controller may be operative to detect thisevent and cause the motor to operate depending on the present mode ofthe water softener when power to the electrical wires 1330 was lost. Forexample, if the softener is in a mode in which regeneration isoccurring, the slave controller may continue to operate the valvemechanism via the motor to complete the regeneration processes, whileunder battery power. However, once the softener has completedregeneration, the slave controller may maintain the softener in aneutral mode in which the softener does not carry out furtherregeneration processes (until electrical power is restored to electricalwires 1330).

However, while the softener is running on battery power, the slavecontroller may continue to monitor water flow from the water meter 1326.Also, in a further embodiment, the slave controller may continuecommunicating messages with a master controller while under batterypower. Thus, if the master controller is likewise under battery power,the master controller can continue to collect water flow data. Further,the slave controller under battery power may be operative to operate themotor to place the valve mechanism in an operational condition thatshuts off water to the outlet 1322 responsive to wireless communicationsfrom the master controller.

In addition, this example embodiment of a water softener may includeother features that enhance operation or manufacturability of thesoftener. For example, the water softener valve may include a base plate1334 that includes clips 1332. A valve head 1336 may slide intoengagement with and engage the clips on the base plate to releasablyfasten these components together without screws. In the exemplaryarrangement, this approach enables changing the slave controller motorand other components rapidly and without a need for disassembly ofsubcomponents. This may facilitate servicing units in the field thathave malfunctions. Further in exemplary arrangements, this approach mayenable upgrading units to different types of slave controllers or otherdevices for purposes of controlling the valve of the liquid conditionerdevice. In addition, the valve mechanism may include a piston yoke 1338that clips into place via clips 1341. This further facilitates theability to change the head. Also, the exemplary housing of the motor1304 is configured to slide into a receptacle in the housing and besecurely mounted to the housing via single screw mount 1342.

Also, as illustrated in a perspective view in FIG. 27 (without wires),the exemplary valve mechanism 1308 may include a support 1502 for abrine valve cam follower 1504 so as to be actuated via a cam 1506. Inthis exemplary arrangement the cam 1506 may function to activate thevalve cam follower by rotating in either direction. This enables usingdifferent valve configurations which can be used with different types ofliquid conditioners.

In an example embodiment, the circuit board 1302 may include or be inoperative connection with a plurality of light sources 1310, 1312, 1314,and 1316 such as LEDs. Such LEDs may be spaced apart on the circuitboard such as being respectively adjacent each of the four corners of arectangular shaped circuit board. Such LEDs may be individuallycontrolled by the slave controller to turn on and off and to changebetween different colors. The number of lit LEDs, the respective colorof each LED, and/or a flashing (on and off) pattern of the LEDs may beoperative to indicate different statuses of the operation of the watersoftener. Referring back to FIG. 24, to enable the light from the LEDsto be visible, the cover 1204 may be made of a translucent plastic thatenables the cover to become illuminated (e.g., glow) with the coloredlight generated via the LEDs. As previously discussed in embodimentswhere the valve is housed within a cabinet such as cabinet 428, thewindow 436 on the top of the cabinet enables the viewing of illuminationof LEDs on the valve therethrough. In addition, the controller may beoperative to selectively illuminate less than the total number LEDs tocause portion of the housing to glow with less intensity then when allof the LEDs are illuminated. Alternatively or in addition, the slavecontroller may be in operative connection with an annunciator or othersound output device that outputs various sounds or tones that correlatewith the illumination properties and/or patterns.

In an example embodiment, the master controller may send at least onewireless message to the slave controller of the circuit board 402 whichcause the LEDs to be all illuminated when the brine tank is determinedby the master controller to have a relatively high level of salt therein(e.g., such as when a user indicates that salt has been recently addedto the brine tank). Further, the master controller may send at least oneother wireless message to the slave controller of the circuit board 402which cause less then all of the LEDs to be illuminated when the mastercontroller determines that the level of salt in the brine tank has beenat least partially consumed (via the master controller monitoring thenumber of regeneration processes since salt was added). Thus, the lightemitted by the LEDS may be progressively lessened as the salt in thebrine tank is consumed and approaches a low level.

In alternative embodiments, in addition to or rather than changing thenumber of lit LEDs, the master controller may cause the slave controllerto change colors in a manner that is indicative of the amount of saltthat may remain in a brine tank. For example, when salt has beenrecently added, the LEDs may be caused by the master controller via atleast one wireless message to display a green color, whereas when thebrine tank needs or is close to needing a refill of salt, the LEDs maybe caused by the master controller via at least one wireless message todisplay a red color. Of course such visual outputs may be accompanied bycorresponding audible outputs in some arrangements and/or outputsthrough a user interface device.

FIG. 46 shows a schematic view of an exemplary system 550. System 550includes a master controller 552 and a plurality of slave controllersassociated with respective slave assemblies. The master controllerincludes processor circuitry 554. The processor circuitry is associatedwith an internal memory schematically indicated 556. Executableinstructions included in the internal memory are currently executable bythe one or more processors included in the processor circuitry 554.

As schematically represented in FIG. 46 master controller 552 includes aplurality of components in operative connection with the processorcircuitry. These may include for example, one or more wirelesscommunication devices 558. Communication devices 558 may be operative toprovide RF communication with devices which are within a relativelylimited distance of the master controller. Alternatively communicationdevices may be operative to communicate either directly or indirectly inwide area networks. The exemplary master controller further includes oneor more input devices schematically indicated 560. Output devicesschematically indicated 562 may also be included in the mastercontroller. The exemplary master controller further includes an externalmemory 564. External memory 564 is operative to store processorexecutable instructions. However the processor executable instructionsstored in the external memory 564 are not currently executable by theprocessor circuitry 554. Of course it should be understood that thisconfiguration and devices are exemplary and other embodiments other ordifferent devices and configurations may be used.

The exemplary master controller 552 is in operative connection with apower supply schematically indicated 566. Power supply 566 is operativeto supply power to the master controller 552 as well as slavecontrollers 568, 570 and 572 in the configuration shown. Power supply566 is in operative connection with a supply of power from a source ofhousehold current such as for example 110 V AC or other suitable powersource.

The exemplary system 550 further includes slave controllers 574, 576 and578. These slave controllers may be powered from an alternative powersource or several different power sources than slave controllers 568,570 and 572. In the exemplary arrangement each of the slave controllers568, 570, 572, 574, 576 and 578 include respective wireless repeatingtransceivers 580. Each wireless repeating transceiver is enabled toreceive information from the communication device 558 of the mastercontroller. Each wireless repeating transceiver 580 is also enabled towirelessly repeat instructions that are transmitted from the mastercontroller. Thus as represented in FIG. 46 in the exemplary arrangementslave controllers 568 and 570 are enabled to communicate directly withthe master controller. Slave controllers that are further awaycommunicate wirelessly with the master controller through the wirelessrepeating transceivers of intermediate slave controllers. This exemplaryarrangement enables the range of the master controller to be extendedbeyond that which could normally be reached directly by the exemplarycommunications device 558.

In exemplary arrangements the system 550 further includes slavecontrollers 582, 584 and 586. Slave controllers 582,584 and 586 do notinclude wireless repeating transceivers. As a result such slavecontrollers communicate with either the master controller directly orone of the slave controllers that includes a wireless repeatingtransceiver. In exemplary arrangements slave controllers not includingwireless repeating transceivers may be associated with sensors, devicesthat control an electric relay or other slave assemblies that aregenerally operatively associated with an activity that does notnecessitate that the slave assembly further transmit messages from themaster controller. In exemplary arrangements slave assemblies maycommunicate with the master controller through up to 63 intermediateslave controllers that include wireless repeating transceivers. Howeverin other embodiments different numbers of intermediate slave controllersmay be utilized depending on the configuration of the circuitryassociated with the master controller and the slave controllers. Theexemplary architecture provides the capabilities for master controllerto communicate with and manage a large number of associated slaveassemblies. This provides the capability to achieve a liquid managementsystem that interacts with numerous devices that may handle or relate tothe water supply in the particular facility in which the system isinstalled.

As represented in FIG. 46, a portable user interface device 588 isutilized to communicate with the master controller 552. The exemplaryportable device 588 may be operative to communicate with thecommunication device 558 through Bluetooth, NFC or other relativelylocal communication method. Alternatively, device 558 may communicate ina local Wi-Fi network within the facility where the system is located.This is represented schematically by communications with device 590. Inexemplary arrangements the master controller through the communicationdevice 558 may also communicate with the portable device 588 through thelocal Wi-Fi network.

Further in exemplary arrangements some systems may additionally providethe capability to communicate outside the local Wi-Fi network throughone or more servers 592. Servers 592 may be in operative connection withone or more networks 594. Such networks 594 may include other local orwide area networks in which other servers and gateways 596 communicate.Thus this exemplary arrangement may enable the portable user interfacedevice to communicate with the master controller 552 remotely through awide area network such as the Internet. This arrangement may facilitateremote control of the master controller and related slave assembliesfrom remote locations by the user.

A useful feature of the exemplary configuration of system 550 is thatthe exemplary master controller includes the necessary executableprogram instructions to control the slave assemblies and the variousdevices associated therewith. This avoids the need for an Internetconnection or other wide area network exposure for the system tooperate. This reduces the risk that the liquid management system andconnected devices can be compromised through external connections. Thesystem also provides the user the ability to obtain the functionalityfor receiving messages indicating the status of the various slaveassemblies, and to control the operation thereof within the facilitywithout the need for an Internet connection. However, the exemplaryarrangement enables Internet connectivity for remote reporting andcontrol activities when desired. Of course it should be understood thatthis arrangement is exemplary and in other embodiments alternativesystems configurations may be used.

FIG. 47 shows a schematic representation of a slave controller 620.Exemplary slave controller includes processor circuitry 622. Theprocessor circuitry is in connection with an internal memory 624. Theprocessor circuitry is also in connection with an external memory 626.

The exemplary slave controller further includes a communication device628. In some exemplary arrangements the communication device maycorrespond to the wireless repeating transceiver previously discussed.Alternatively the wireless communication device may be a nonrepeatingtransceiver. The exemplary slave controller further includes at leastone input device 630 and at least one output device 632. Of course itshould be understood that these devices and arrangements are exemplary,and in other embodiments different or other devices may be used.

In exemplary arrangements the internal memory 626 includes executableinstructions which comprise a boot loader application schematicallyrepresented 634. The instructions which comprise the boot loaderapplication remain constant in firmware associated with the processorcircuitry and are not changed responsive to changes and updates in theinstructions that are stored in the internal memory. The exemplary bootloader capabilities enables the master controller and each of the slavecontrollers to receive updated processor executable instructions withoutthe need for an Internet connection. This is accomplished in exemplaryarrangements by the executable instructions that are associated with aprogram or app resident in memory on the portable user interface device,to provide updated processor executable instructions to the system, andto cause such updated instructions to be selectively applied whendesired by the user.

In exemplary arrangements, the user is enabled to obtain the executableinstructions to operate the system from their portable user interfacedevice, by downloading executable instructions and data as an app from asuitable website or other source. The downloadable instructions enablethe user's portable device to communicate with the master controller andalso provide functions for receiving information and controlling theslave assemblies within the system in ways like those previouslydiscussed. However in exemplary embodiments the portable device residentuser app also includes therewith all of the processor executableinstructions for each type of slave controller that may be deployedwithin a system. This includes the suitable instructions for each typeof slave assembly which has an associated identifier type which can berecognized by the master controller. Thus the application on theportable device includes all the necessary processor executableinstructions for the operation of the master controller and each of theslave controllers that may be deployed as part of a water managementsystem.

Further in exemplary embodiments, the app that the user downloads totheir portable user interface device may include a function thatperiodically reminds the user to update the app. Alternatively theupdating function for the app to connect to the website and obtainupdates may be automated so that the user periodically obtains thelatest program instructions along with the updated app from the site. Ofcourse these approaches are exemplary and in other embodiments otherapproaches used.

FIGS. 48 to 50 schematically describe the logical steps carried out bythe master controller in connection with receiving updated processorexecutable instructions from a portable user interface device. TheseFigures further describe the exemplary logic flow associated withdeploying the updated processor executable instructions to each of theslave controllers that are included in the system. In the exemplaryarrangement after the master controller has started in a step 646, thecontroller is in a run condition as represented by a step 648. When themaster controller is in the run condition it may receive updatedprocessor executable instructions from the portable user interfacedevice as represented in a step 650. Responsive to receiving theinstructions the processor circuitry associated with the mastercontroller is operative to review data included with the instructionswhich indicates at least one version identifier associated with theinstructions. The processor circuitry is operative to compare the atleast one version identifier associated with the newly receivedinstructions and the one or more version identifiers associated with theexecutable instructions currently resident in the internal memory of themaster controller. This is represented by a step 652. In the event thatreceived instructions correspond to the version of the instructionscurrently in the internal memory of the master controller the processorcircuitry makes a determination in a step 654 that no updating of theinstructions currently in the internal memory of the master controlleris required. The controller returns to the run condition represented bystep 648.

In the event that the processor executable instructions that arereceived in step 650 is determined to correspond to a newer version thanis currently present in internal memory, the processor circuitry isoperative to communicate with the portable user interface device asrepresented at a step 656. The communications from the master controllerare operative to prompt the user to indicate whether they wish to havethe master controller apply the updates to the master controller and theslave controllers within the system. Responsive to the messages sent tothe portable device in step 656 the user provides a response through theinterface of the portable device which causes a message to be receivedby the master controller as represented by step 658. If the user hasindicated that they do not wish to apply the updated processorexecutable instructions to the system a determination is made at a step662 return the processor circuitry to the run condition.

If the user has indicated that they wish to apply the updated processorexecutable instructions to the master controller and the slavecontrollers, the processor circuitry of the master controller isoperative to apply the updates to the slave controllers and the mastercontroller. The master controller may operate to deploy updatesimmediately or may defer the deployment of the updates until aprogrammed time or a time when it is detected that no other systemactivity is occurring. The exemplary updated processor executableinstructions include order instructions in the form of table data. Thetable data includes order instructions which define the updatedexecutable instructions that go to the respective slave controllers andalso the order in which the updates are to be provided. The processorcircuitry implements the delivery of the updated executable instructionsin accordance with the table data as represented by step 662. Inexemplary arrangement the master controller is operative to first sendthe appropriate updated instructions to the slave controllers that donot include wireless repeating transceivers. This is represented by astep 664. The processor circuitry of the master controller updates theslave assemblies that do not include wireless repeating transceiversuntil all such slave assemblies have received the updated instructions.The iterative updating of these slave controllers without repeaters anddiscontinuing the deployment to such slave assemblies after all havebeen updated is represented by a step 668.

Once the master controller has distributed the updated processorexecutable instructions to all the slave controllers that do not includewireless repeating transceivers, the master controller then operates inaccordance with the table data to distribute the respective updates tothe slave controllers that communicate through the largest number ofintermediate slave controllers. For example, slave controllers thatcommunicate with the master controller through (N) intermediate slavecontrollers, where N is equal to 10, will all be updated before theslave controllers that communicate with the master controller throughintermediate slave controllers where N is equal to nine, and so on.

As represented in step 670, the master controller is operative todistribute the respective updates to the slave controllers beginningwith the level where the N value is the largest in the system. Oncethose slave controllers at that level have been updated as determined ina step 672, the master controller operates to send the updates to slavecontrollers at the next level corresponding to a progressively smaller Nvalue. This is represented by a step 674. After all the slavecontrollers at that level have been determined to be updated in a step676, the master controller then updates slave controllers at the nextprogressively smaller N value level as represented by steps 678 and 680.

In the exemplary arrangement the process of delivering updates to theslave controllers having progressively smaller N levels continues untilthe slave controllers that directly communicate wirelessly with themaster controller receive the respective updates. This is represented bya step 682. The completion of delivery of the updates to the slavecontrollers that directly communicate with the master controller isdetermined at a step 684. Once all the slave controllers have beenupdated, the master controller then loads its own applicable updatedprocessor circuit executable instructions as represented in a step 686.Once the master controller has applied the applicable updated executableinstructions, the master controller then sends instructions to the slavecontrollers to implement the boot loader process as represented by step688. The master controller may also operate in accordance with itsprogrammed instructions to carry out the boot loader process associatedwith the master controller concurrently with the operation of the bootloaders of the slave controllers. Of course it should be understood thatthis approach is exemplary and in other embodiments other approaches maybe used.

The application of the updated processor circuit executable instructionsby an exemplary slave controller is represented schematically in FIGS.51-53. In the exemplary arrangement with the respective slave controllerin the run condition as represented in step 690, the controller isoperative to receive the respective updated processor executableinstructions. An exemplary arrangement the master controller isoperative to send the applicable updated instructions to the slavecontroller based on the slave controller identifying information thathas been communicated to the master controller and stored therein at thetime that the slave controller was joined in the system. As previouslydiscussed, in the exemplary arrangement the data included with theupdated processor executable instructions includes identifying datawhich enables the master controller to identify the applicable updatedinstructions that apply to each type of slave assembly. The slaveassembly receives the applicable updated instructions as represented bya step 692.

The processor circuitry of the applicable slave controller is operativeto store the received updated instructions in external memory. This isrepresented by a step 694. The processor circuitry is operative toanalyze the received updated instructions to calculate a cyclicalredundancy check (CRC) value from the updated processor instructions.This value is calculated and uniquely corresponds to the updatedinstructions. The calculation of the CRC value based on the receivedinstructions is represented by a step 696. The processor circuitry ofthe slave controller is operative to compare the calculated CRC value toCRC value data included in a header of the processor circuit executableinstructions. The CRC value is included in the data that is deliveredwith the updated instructions to assure that the integrity of theinstructions can be verified. This comparison of the calculated value tothe received value is represented by a step 698.

As represented in a step 718 a determination is made whether thecalculated CRC value is the same as the included CRC value. In the eventthat the values are not the same this indicates there is a problem. Theprocessor circuitry of the slave controller operates to delete theinstructions that had been stored in external memory as represented in astep 720, and the slave controller sends at least one wireless messageto the master controller to resend the updated instructions. This isrepresented in a step 722.

Alternatively if the updated processor executable instructions aredetermined to have been stored in the external memory in an accuratemanner in step 718, the processor circuitry then waits to receive theboot load instruction from the master controller. When the boot loadinstruction is received as represented by a step 724, the processorcircuitry operates in accordance with the boot loader instructionsincluded in internal memory to carry out the necessary steps to applythe updated executable instructions to the internal memory from whichthey can be executed by the processor circuitry of the slave controller.This is represented by a step 726.

The processor circuitry next operates responsive to the boot loaderinstructions to calculate the CRC value based on the updatedinstructions in the external memory. This is represented by a step 728.The processor circuitry is operative to compare the calculated CRC valueto the CRC value included with the updated instructions as representedby a step 730. If the CRC values are determined not to be the same in astep 732 the external memory is erased as indicated in a step 733 and amalfunction is indicated. If the calculated CRC value and the includedCRC value are the same as determined in the step 732 the processorcircuitry then moves to a step 734 in which the CRC value of theinstructions currently in internal memory are calculated. The CRC valueincluded in the header of the existing instructions in internal memoryare then compared in a step 736 to the calculated CRC value.

If the values are determined to be the same in a step 738, the processorcircuitry is then operative to compare the data corresponding to the atleast one version number associated with the instructions currently ininternal memory to the version number associated with the instructionscurrently in the external memory. This is represented by a step 742.Alternatively, if in step 738 the calculated CRC value for theinstructions currently in internal memory did not correspond to the CRCvalue associated with the header data for the instructions in internalmemory, then the internal memory instructions are suspect, and theprocessor circuitry operates to replace them in a manner laterdiscussed.

If in step 742 the version numbers of the executable instructions inexternal memory and an internal memory are the same, then there is noneed to apply the updated instructions to the internal memory.Responsive to a determination in a step 744 that the version numbers arethe same, the processor circuitry returns to the run condition. However,if the version number of the executable instructions currently ininternal memory is different than the version number in external memory,the boot loader instructions are operative to update the internalmemory.

As represented in a step 746 the processor circuitry is operative tocopy the instructions in external memory to the internal memory. A CRCvalue is then calculated in a step 748 for the instructions that havebeen copied into internal memory. The calculated CRC value is thencompared to the CRC value in the header data a step 750. If the CRCvalues are determined to correspond, meaning that the instructions werecopied accurately as represented in a step 752, the processor circuitryoperates a start routine as represented at step 754 and the slavecontroller returns to the run condition.

Alternatively if the calculated CRC value for the instructions copiedinto internal memory does not correspond to the header CRC value, thenthe instructions are operative to cause the CRC value to be determinedfo the instructions included in external memory. This is represented bya step 756. The calculated CRC value for the instructions in externalmemory are then compared to the CRC value of the header data for theinstructions in external memory as represented by a step 758. If the CRCvalues correspond as determined in a step 760, the processorinstructions again attempt to cause the instructions from externalmemory to be copied into internal memory at step 746. Alternatively, ifat step 760 the CRC values did not correspond then the boot loaderinstructions operate to send a message indicating a malfunction to themaster controller as indicated at step 762 and the slave controllersuspends operation or reverts to a default condition as indicated at astep 764.

This exemplary arrangement of the logic flow for the boot loaderinstructions is carried out by each of the exemplary slave controllers.The master controller also operates using boot loader instructions thatare generally similar to those discussed in order to apply the updatedinstructions to the internal memory from which such instructions may beexecuted. Of course it should be understood that a logic flow asrepresented schematically an additional steps may be utilized inconnection with certain exemplary embodiments.

In exemplary embodiments certain slave controllers may include factoryprogrammed instructions that may be included in internal memory that donot correspond to the instructions included in external memory. Inexemplary embodiments it may be desirable not to cause this factoryprogramming to be replaced when the slave controller is implemented inthe system. Further, in exemplary embodiments it may be desirable forthe master controller and slave controller to periodically check thevalidity of the available instructions that are being executed to assurethat the controllers can recover from software malfunctions. Thesecapabilities of certain exemplary embodiments are representedschematically by the logic flow in FIGS. 54 and 55.

In the exemplary arrangement when operation of a slave controller isinitiated in a system as represented by step 766, a determination ismade at a step 768 as to whether this is the first time the slavecontroller has been started in connection with the system. If so thenthe executable instructions in internal memory are operative to read theheader data included with the instructions included in internal memory.This is represented in a step 770. Certain internal header versionidentifiers are associated with factory installed software that is notto be initially replaced on start up of the slave controller. Adetermination is made in a step 772 whether the software instructions ininternal memory correspond to such factory installed instructions. Ifthe instructions in internal memory do not correspond to factoryinstalled instructions that are to be preserved, the slave controlleroperates to proceed to a run condition represented by a step 774.However if the instructions in internal memory do correspond to factoryinstalled instructions that are to be preserved, the slave controlleroperates to erase the instructions currently included in external memoryas represented by a step 776. This then causes the instructions ininternal memory to be copied to the external memory as later discussed.

From the run condition 774 the processor instructions operate to executea timing or clock function as represented by step 778. When certainperiodic elapsed time periods are reached as represented by a step 780the instructions are operative to cause a check of the external memoryas represented by step 782. The check of the external memory in anexemplary embodiment includes making a determination as to the contentof the external memory.

As represented by a step 784 the processor circuitry is operative tocalculate a CRC value for the instructions included in external memory.A comparison is then made of the calculated CRC value to the header CRCvalue associated with the instructions in external memory as representedin step 786. If it is determined in a step 788 that the external memoryis blank, such as might happen if factory installed instructions arefound on initial start up of the slave controller, then a step is takento copy the instructions in internal memory to the external memory aslater discussed. If the external memory is not blank but the calculatedCRC value for the instructions in external memory does not correspond tothe CRC value in the header data as determined in a step 790, then thelogic proceeds to copy the instructions in internal memory to theexternal memory as represented in a step 792. However, if in step 790the CRC values for the instructions in the external memory correspond,then the logic returns to the run condition.

From step 792 where the instructions in internal memory are copied tothe external memory, the CRC value for the copied instructions inexternal memory is calculated in a step 794. A comparison is made to theCRC value in the header data of the instructions copied to externalmemory as represented in a step 796. If in a step 798 the calculated andheader CRC values correspond, then the logic returns to the runcondition.

If in step 798 however the calculated and header CRC values do notcorrespond, a determination is made in a step 812 as to whether a priorattempt has been made to copy the instructions in internal memory toexternal memory. If no prior attempt has been made, then the logicreturns to step 792 and a further attempt is made to copy theinstructions in internal memory to the external memory. However if instep 812 it is determined that a prior attempt to copy the internalmemory to the external memory has been unsuccessfully made, then theprocessor circuitry is operative to send a message to the mastercontroller to report the condition at a step 814. The logic then movesto a step 816 in which the slave controller suspends operation or goesinto a default operation mode and waits for further correctiveinstructions.

If during operation, a controller detects a software malfunction, theprocessor operates in accordance with its instructions to copy theexecutable instructions from external memory to internal memory. Theprocessor then calculates the CRC value for the software instructionscopied to internal memory. The processor then compares the calculatedCRC value to the included header CRC valve. If the CRC valves are thesame the processor executes a restart. Generally this will enable thecontroller to automatically recover from a software malfunction. In theexemplary water management system the master controller as well as eachslave controller has instructions that enable such recovery.

It should be understood that this logic flow associated with theexemplary embodiment is merely one of numerous different implementationswhich may be used for purposes of enabling the system to be providedwith updated executable instructions and to apply such instructions tothe master controller and slave assemblies utilized in such systems. Inother embodiments other arrangements and approaches may be used.

As used herein, the terms “component” and “system” are intended toencompass hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.Thus, for example, a system or component may be a process, a processexecuting on a processor, or a processor. Additionally, a component orsystem may be localized on a single device or distributed across severaldevices.

Thus the exemplary embodiments achieve improved operation, eliminatedifficulties encountered in the use of prior valve devices and systemsand attain the useful results described herein.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clarity and understanding. However, no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom because such terms are used for descriptive purposesand are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover the descriptions andillustrations herein are by way of examples and the new and usefulconcepts are not limited to the features shown and described.

It should be understood that the features and/or relationshipsassociated with one embodiment can be combined with features and/orrelationships from another embodiment. That is, various features and/orrelationships from various embodiments can be combined in furtherembodiments. The inventive scope of the disclosure is not limited toonly the embodiments shown or described herein.

Having described the features, discoveries and principles of theexemplary embodiments, the manner in which they are constructed andoperated, and the advantages and useful results attained, the new anduseful features, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations,systems, equipment, operations, methods, processes and relationships areset forth in the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. Apparatus comprising: a valve, wherein the valve includes aplurality of flow passages, a liquid treatment tank, wherein the valveis in operative fluid connection with the tank, a motor, wherein themotor is in operative connection with the valve, wherein the motor isenabled to control the valve to cause the valve and liquid treatmenttank to be selectively placed in a plurality of operational conditions,including a service condition, wherein in the service conditionuntreated liquid is delivered through the valve and caused to passthrough the tank, and liquid treated by having passed through the tankis delivered from the valve, at least one other condition, wherein inthe at least one other condition, liquid is delivered through the valveand caused to pass through the tank for improvement of liquid treatmentoperation, and after having passed through the tank is delivered fromthe valve, a valve slave controller, wherein the valve slave controlleris in operative connection with the motor, wherein the valve slavecontroller is operative to cause the motor to operate to changeoperational conditions of the valve and liquid treatment tank, a mastercontroller, wherein the master controller is configurable to beoperative to control a plurality of slave controllers, including thevalve slave controller, wherein the master controller includes a masterwireless communication portal that enables the master controller towirelessly communicate with each of the plurality of slave controllers,wherein each slave controller includes a respective slave wirelesscommunication portal that enables the slave controller to wirelesslycommunicate with the master controller, a data store that includesrespective function data, wherein the respective slave wirelesscommunication portal is operative to wirelessly communicate therespective function data to the master controller, wherein the mastercontroller is operative responsive at least in part to receipt of therespective function data to wirelessly communicate with the respectiveslave controller to control the respective slave controller, wherein thevalve slave controller is operable to wirelessly communicate messagesincluding data representative of a current operational condition of atleast one of the valve and the liquid treatment tank to the mastercontroller, and wherein the master controller is operable responsive atleast in part to the respective function data from the valve slavecontroller to wirelessly communicate messages to the valve slavecontroller which messages are operable to cause the slave controller tochange at least one operational condition of at least one of the valveand the liquid treatment tank.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1wherein the function data includes data indicative of a liquid treatmentfunction associated with the liquid treatment tank.
 3. The apparatusaccording to claim 2 and further comprising: a further slave controllerof the plurality of slave controllers, that is associated with a furthervalve, and a further tank, wherein the respective function data of thefurther slave controller includes the data indicative of the liquidtreatment function, wherein the master controller is operativeresponsive at least in part to the respective function data of the slavecontroller and the further slave controller including the dataindicative of the liquid treatment function, to cause the slavecontroller to cause the valve and the liquid treatment tank and thefurther slave controller to cause the further valve and the furtherliquid treatment tank to each be in the service conditionsimultaneously.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the valveincludes an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein in the servicecondition of the valve the inlet port is configured to receive untreatedliquid and the outlet port is configured to deliver treated liquid,wherein the further valve includes a further inlet port and a furtheroutlet port, wherein in the service condition of the further valve thefurther inlet port is configured to receive untreated liquid and theoutlet port is configured to deliver treated liquid, whereby with eachof the valve and the further valve in the respective service condition,untreated liquid is enabled to be treated by passing through each of thetank and the further tank.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1 whereinthe master controller includes a clock function, wherein the mastercontroller is operative to determine, responsive at least in part to theclock function, that the liquid treatment tank should be placed in theat least one other condition, wherein the master controller is operativeresponsive at least in part to the respective function data from thevalve slave controller to cause wireless messages including conditionchange instructions to be communicated to the valve slave controller,wherein the valve slave controller is operable to change the valve andthe liquid treatment tank to the at least one other condition responsiveat least in part to the condition change instructions in the wirelessmessages received from the master controller.
 6. The apparatus accordingto claim 5 and further including a meter in operative connection withthe liquid treatment tank, wherein the meter is operative to outputsignals corresponding to treated liquid flow from the liquid treatmenttank, wherein the meter is in operative connection with a meter slavecontroller, wherein the meter slave controller is operative tocommunicate messages corresponding to sensed liquid flow by the meter tothe master controller, wherein the master controller is operative tomake the determination responsive at least in part to the liquid flowsensed by the meter.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 5 and furthercomprising: a delivery valve, wherein the delivery valve is configuredto control delivery of untreated liquid to the valve, wherein thedelivery valve is in operative connection with a delivery valve motor,wherein the delivery valve motor is selectively operative to change atleast one delivery valve condition, wherein the plurality of slavecontrollers includes a delivery valve slave controller, wherein thedelivery valve slave controller is in operative connection with thedelivery valve motor, wherein the delivery valve slave controller isoperative to wirelessly communicate delivery valve function data to themaster controller, wherein responsive at least in part to the receiveddelivery valve function data, the master controller is operative towirelessly communicate with the delivery valve slave controller tocontrol the delivery valve motor, wherein responsive at least in part tothe determination, the master controller is operative to communicatewireless messages with the delivery valve slave controller, wherein thecommunicated messages are operative to cause the delivery valve slavecontroller to operate the delivery valve motor to change the at leastone delivery valve condition so that untreated liquid is no longersupplied to the valve and the liquid treatment tank.
 8. The apparatusaccording to claim 7 and further comprising: a further valve and afurther liquid treatment tank, wherein the further valve includes afurther motor, wherein the further motor is operative to control thefurther valve to cause the further valve and further liquid treatmenttank to be selectively placed in a plurality of operating conditions, afurther valve slave controller in operative connection with the furthermotor, wherein the further valve slave controller is operative towirelessly communicate further valve function data to the mastercontroller, wherein the master controller is operative responsive atleast in part to the further valve function data to communicate wirelessmessages with the further valve slave controller that are operative tocontrol the further motor, a further delivery valve, wherein the furtherdelivery valve is in operative connection with a further delivery valvemotor, wherein the further delivery valve motor is selectively operativeto change at least one further delivery valve condition, wherein theplurality of slave controllers includes a further delivery valve slavecontroller, wherein the further delivery valve slave controller is inoperative connection with the further delivery valve motor, wherein thefurther delivery valve slave controller is operative to wirelesslycommunicate further delivery valve function data to the mastercontroller, wherein the master controller is operative responsive atleast in part to the further delivery valve function data to communicatewireless messages with the further delivery valve slave controller thatare operative to control the further delivery valve motor and conditionsof the further delivery valve, wherein the further delivery valve isoperative to change the at least one further delivery valve condition toselectively control delivery of untreated liquid to the further valveand further liquid treatment tank, responsive to wireless messagesreceived by the further delivery valve slave controller from the mastercontroller.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the mastercontroller is operative to cause the valve and liquid treatment tank tobe in the at least one other condition while the further valve andfurther liquid treatment tank are in the service condition.
 10. Theapparatus according to claim 8 wherein the master controller isoperative to cause the valve and liquid treatment tank to be in theservice condition while the further valve and further liquid treatmenttank are in the service condition.
 11. The apparatus according to claim8 wherein the valve comprises a multiport valve having a housing thatincludes more than two fluid ports, a bore in the housing, wherein thebore is surrounded by a plurality of annular flow cavities, a pistonwherein the piston is movable in the bore, wherein the motor isoperative to move the piston between a plurality of different positionsrelative to the bore, wherein in the different positions the piston isoperative to enable liquid flow between different annular flow cavitiesin the housing.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the valveslave controller includes a respective data store, wherein therespective data store of the valve slave controller includes therespective function data for the valve slave controller, wherein themaster controller is operative to receive the respective function dataof the valve slave controller through wireless communication with thevalve slave controller, wherein the master controller is configured tocontrol each of the valve and the delivery valve in coordinated relationresponsive at least in part respectively to the received function datafor the valve slave controller and the delivery valve function data forthe delivery valve slave controller.
 13. The apparatus according toclaim 7 and further comprising: a liquid network connection, wherein theliquid treatment tank is configured to supply treated liquid to theliquid network connection, wherein the master controller is configuredto cause at least one of the valve and the delivery valve to selectivelypermit and prevent flow of treated liquid from the liquid treatment tankto the liquid network connection responsive to wireless messagescommunicated with the master controller.
 14. The apparatus according toclaim 6 wherein the master controller is operable to determine a liquidusage pattern with respect to elapsed time responsive at least in partto the flow sensed by the meter and the clock function, wherein themaster controller is operable to cause: a determination to be made thatdata based on current sensed liquid flow is not consistent with thedetermined liquid use pattern, and cause at least one message to be sentto a portable user device responsive at least in part to thedetermination.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein themaster controller is configured to make a further determination thatdata based on current sensed liquid flow is higher than a thresholdamount based on the determined liquid usage pattern, and responsive atleast in part to the further determination, send at least one wirelessmessage to the delivery valve slave controller which is operative tocause the delivery valve to cause cessation of liquid delivery from theliquid treatment tank.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 14 andfurther comprising: a display, wherein the display is in operativeconnection with the valve slave controller, wherein the valve slavecontroller is configured to operate responsive to wireless messages fromthe master controller to cause the display to output visual informationrepresentative of data associated with operation of the valve and theliquid treatment tank.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 16 whereinthe display is in operative connection with at least one input device,wherein at least one input to the at least one input device is operativeto change at least one operation of at least one of the valve and theliquid treatment tank.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 16 andfurther including a liquid softener, wherein the liquid softenerincludes the liquid treatment tank a brine tank and a salt sensor thatis configured to determine salt level data based on a level of salt inthe brine tank, wherein the valve slave controller is in operativeconnection with the salt sensor, wherein the valve slave controller isconfigured to wirelessly communicate messages with the master controllerthat include data corresponding to a level of salt in the brine tank,wherein the master controller is operative to send wireless messagesoperative to cause the display to output visual informationrepresentative of a level of salt currently in the brine tank.
 19. Theapparatus according to claim 16 and further comprising a portable userinterface device, wherein the portable user interface device includesthe display, an interface device wireless communication portal, and atleast one processor, wherein the master controller and the portable userinterface device are configured to communicate wirelessly with eachother via wireless communications, wherein the portable user interfacedevice includes a liquid management application including computerexecutable instructions executable by the at least one processor,wherein the liquid management application executed by the at least oneprocessor is operative to cause the display to output visual indiciarepresentative of information associated with at least one of the valveand the liquid treatment tank responsive at least in part to wirelesscommunication with the master controller.
 20. The apparatus according toclaim 19 wherein the portable user interface device is configuredresponsive at least in part to operation of the liquid managementapplication to wirelessly communicate with the master controller, whichcommunication causes the master controller to communicate wirelessmessages with the valve slave controller which are operative to changean operational condition of at least one of the valve and the liquidtreatment tank.
 21. The apparatus according to claim 19 and furthercomprising an electrically powered device, an electric relay, whereinthe relay is in operative connection with the electrically powereddevice, wherein the relay is selectively operative to change between acondition in which electricity is delivered to the device and anothercondition in which electricity is not delivered to the device, whereinthe plurality of slave controllers includes a relay slave controller,wherein the relay slave controller is selectively operative to controlthe relay to be in the condition or the another condition, wherein therelay slave controller includes respective device function data thatidentifies a function of the device, wherein the relay slave controlleris operative to wirelessly communicate the device function data to themaster controller, wherein the master controller responsive at least inpart to the device function data is operative to communicate wirelessmessages with the relay slave controller to control delivery ornon-delivery of electrical power to the electrically powered device. 22.The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the electrically powereddevice includes at least one of a liquid heater, a sump pump, a liquidsupply pump, a well pump, an ozone generator, a liquid conditioner, anultraviolet light, a valve, a grey water collection and reuse system,and/or an irrigation system.
 23. The apparatus according to claim 21 andfurther comprising a sensor, a sensor slave controller, wherein thesensor slave controller is in operative connection with the sensor,wherein the sensor slave controller is configured to wirelesslycommunicate to the master controller, sensor function data and sensordata sensed by the sensor, wherein the master controller is configuredresponsive at least in part to the sensor function data to communicatewireless messages with the relay slave controller to cause the relay tochange electrical condition responsive to wireless messages received bythe master controller from the sensor slave controller that includesensor data.
 24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the sensoris operative to sense at least one of moisture, pressure, temperature,liquid flow, and/or electrical power.
 25. The apparatus according toclaim 23 wherein the motor is enabled to control the valve to furthercause the valve to be selectively placed in each of a shutoff positionand a bypass condition, wherein in the shutoff condition, untreatedliquid cannot pass through the valve and into the tank, wherein in thebypass condition, at least some untreated liquid flows into and out ofthe valve without passing in or out of the tank, wherein wirelessmessages from the master controller enable the valve and the tank to beselectively placed in any of the service condition, the at least oneother condition, the shutoff condition, or the bypass condition.
 26. Theapparatus according to claim 1 wherein the motor is enabled to controlthe valve to further cause the valve to be selectively placed in each ofa shutoff position and a bypass condition, wherein in the shutoffcondition, untreated liquid cannot pass through the valve and into thetank, wherein in the bypass condition, at least some untreated liquidflows into and out of the valve without passing in or out of the tank,wherein wireless messages from the master controller enable the valveand the tank to be selectively placed in any of the service condition,the at least one other condition, the shutoff condition, or the bypasscondition.
 27. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the mastercontroller includes a data store that includes calendar data storedtherein, wherein the calendar data is representative of at least one ofdays, dates, times or a combination thereof for when to modify a waterflow, wherein the master controller is operative responsive at least inpart to the calendar data and the clock function to wirelessly controlwater flow from the valve and liquid treatment tank responsive to acurrent time and the calendar data.
 28. The apparatus according to claim2 wherein the master controller includes a data store that includescalendar data stored therein, wherein the calendar data isrepresentative of at least one of days, dates, times or a combinationthereof for when to modify a water flow, wherein the master controlleris operative responsive at least in part to the calendar data and theclock function to wirelessly control water flow from the valve andliquid treatment tank responsive to a current time and the calendardata.
 29. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the mastercontroller is operative to receive at least one wireless message from aportable user device, wherein the master controller is operativeresponsive at least in part to the at least one message from theportable user device, to change an operational condition of the at leastone of valve and the liquid treatment tank.
 30. The apparatus accordingto claim 1 and further comprising an electrically powered device, anelectric relay, wherein the relay is in operative connection with theelectrically powered device, wherein the relay is selectively operativeto change between a condition in which electricity is delivered to thedevice and another condition in which electricity is not delivered tothe device, wherein the plurality of slave controllers includes a relayslave controller, wherein the relay slave controller is selectivelyoperative to control the relay to be in the condition or the anothercondition, wherein the relay slave controller includes respective devicefunction data that identifies a function of the device, wherein therelay slave controller is operative to wirelessly communicate the devicefunction data with the master controller, wherein the master controllerresponsive at least in part to the device function data is operative tocommunicate wireless messages with the relay slave controller to controlthe delivery or non-delivery of electrical power to the electricallypowered device.
 31. Apparatus comprising: a valve, wherein the valveincludes a plurality of liquid flow passages, a liquid treatment tank,in operative fluid connection with the valve, wherein the liquidtreatment tank is operative to perform a liquid treatment functionincluding at least one of soften liquid, filter liquid and/or oxidizecontaminants in liquid that is passed therethrough, at least one motor,wherein the at least one motor is in operative connection with thevalve, wherein the at least one motor is enabled to control the valve tocause the valve and the liquid treatment tank to selectively be in aplurality of operational conditions, including a service condition,wherein in the service condition untreated liquid is delivered throughthe valve and caused to pass through the tank, and liquid conditioned byhaving passed through the tank is delivered from the valve, at least oneother condition, wherein in the at least one other condition, liquid isdelivered through the valve and caused to pass through the tank toimprove the liquid treatment operation of the liquid treatment tank andafter having passed through the tank is delivered from the valve, aslave controller, wherein the slave controller is in operativeconnection with the at least one motor, wherein the slave controller isoperative to cause the at least one motor to selectively operate tochange operational conditions of the valve and liquid treatment tank,wherein the slave controller includes a slave wireless communicationportal, a data store that includes function data corresponding to theliquid treatment function of the liquid treatment tank, a mastercontroller, wherein the master controller is configurable to beoperative to control the slave controller, wherein the master controllerincludes a master wireless communication portal that enables the mastercontroller to wirelessly communicate with the slave controller, whereinthe slave controller is operative to wirelessly communicate the functiondata to the master controller, wherein the slave controller is operableto wirelessly communicate messages including data representative of acurrent operational condition of at least one of the valve and theliquid treatment tank to the master controller, and wherein the mastercontroller is operable responsive at least in part to the function datato wirelessly communicate messages to the slave controller, whichmessages are operable to cause the slave controller to operate the atleast one motor to change at least one operational condition of at leastone of the valve and the liquid treatment tank.
 32. The apparatusaccording to claim 31 and further comprising: a further valve, a furtherliquid treatment tank, wherein the further liquid treatment tank is inoperative connection with the further valve, wherein the further liquidtreatment tank is operative to perform the liquid treatment function, atleast one further motor, wherein the at least one further motor is inoperative connection with the further valve, wherein the at least onefurther motor is enabled to control the further valve to cause thefurther valve and the further liquid treatment tank to selectively be ina plurality of operational conditions including the service conditionand the at least one other condition, a further slave controller,wherein the further slave controller is in operative connection with theat least one further motor, wherein the further slave controllerincludes a further slave wireless communication portal, a further datastore that includes function data corresponding to the liquid treatmentfunction, wherein the further slave controller is operative to cause theat least one further motor to selectively operate to change operationalconditions of the further valve and further liquid treatment tank,wherein the master controller is configurable to be operative towirelessly communicate with the further slave wireless portal andcontrol the further slave controller, wherein the further slavecontroller is operative to wirelessly communicate the function data tothe master controller, wherein the master controller is operativeresponsive at least in part to the function data communicated by theslave controller and the further function data communicated by thefurther slave controller to cause the slave controller to cause thevalve and the liquid treatment tank and the further slave controller tocause the further valve and the further liquid treatment tank to each bein the service condition simultaneously.
 33. The apparatus according toclaim 32 wherein the valve includes an inlet port and an outlet port,wherein in the service condition of the valve the inlet port isconfigured to receive intreated liquid and the outlet port is configuredto deliver treated liquid, wherein the further valve includes a furtherinlet port and a further outlet port, wherein in the service conditionof the further valve the further inlet port is configured to receiveuntreated liquid and the outlet port is configured to deliver treatedliquid, whereby with each of the valve and the further valve in theservice condition, untreated liquid is enabled to be treated by passingthrough each of the tank and the further tank.
 34. Apparatus comprising:a valve, wherein the valve includes a plurality of flow passages, aliquid treatment device, wherein the valve is in operative fluidconnection with the liquid treatment device, a motor, wherein the motoris in operative connection with the liquid treatment device, wherein themotor is enabled to control the valve to cause the liquid treatmentdevice to be selectively placed in a plurality of operationalconditions, including a service condition, wherein in the servicecondition untreated liquid is delivered through the valve and caused topass through the liquid treatment device and is delivered therefrom, atleast one other condition, wherein in the at least one other condition,liquid is delivered through the valve and caused to pass through theliquid treatment device to improve the liquid treatment operation, avalve slave controller, wherein the valve slave controller is inoperative connection with the motor, wherein the valve slave controlleris operative to cause the motor to operate to change operationalconditions of the valve and liquid treatment device, a mastercontroller, wherein the master controller is configurable to beoperative to control a plurality of slave controllers, including thevalve slave controller, wherein the master controller includes a masterwireless communication portal that enables the master controller towirelessly communicate with each of the plurality of slave controllers,wherein each slave controller includes a respective slave wirelesscommunication portal that enables the slave controller to wirelesslycommunicate with the master controller, a data store that includesrespective function data, wherein the respective slave wirelesscommunication portal is operative to wirelessly communicate therespective function data to the master controller, wherein the mastercontroller is operative responsive at least in part to receipt of therespective function data to wirelessly communicate with the respectiveslave controller to control the respective slave controller, wherein thevalve slave controller is operable to wirelessly communicate messagesincluding data representative of a current operational condition of atleast one of the valve and the liquid treatment device to the mastercontroller, and wherein the master controller is operable responsive atleast in part to the respective function data from the valve slavecontroller to wirelessly communicate messages to the valve slavecontroller which messages are operable to cause the slave controller tochange at least one operational condition of at least one of the valveand the liquid treatment device.